RAPID CITY, S.D. — Top-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln showed why it entered the Class AA state tournament unbeaten, pulling away in the second half to defeat Tea Area 69-44 in Thursday’s opening round at the Monument Ice Arena.
The Patriots (21-0) broke open a tight game with a dominant third quarter and an explosive finish, outscoring the Titans 41-18 after halftime to advance to the semifinals.
Tea Area (13-8) kept things competitive early, trailing just 28-26 at the break. The Titans briefly grabbed the lead in the second quarter behind aggressive play from Gavin Shawd and Lane Sieber, but Lincoln answered late to take a slim halftime edge.
The turning point came in the third quarter.
Lincoln’s defense tightened and its rebounding advantage began to show, led by Samuel DeGroot, who controlled the paint. The Patriots opened the half on a 14-5 run and held Tea Area to just two field goals in the quarter, building a 42-31 lead heading into the fourth.
From there, Lincoln put the game away.
The Patriots erupted for 27 points in the final period, shooting over 70 percent from the field in the quarter. Brody Nour and Owen Duffy fueled the surge in transition, while DeGroot continued to dominate inside and at the free-throw line.
DeGroot led all scorers with 21 points and added a game-high 15 rebounds, anchoring Lincoln’s 40-31 advantage on the glass. Nour added 13 points, while Brody Schafer contributed nine points and six assists.
Lincoln’s balanced attack also featured 13 assists and just six turnovers.
Tea Area was led by Shawd’s 12 points and nine rebounds, while Mitch Grant and Sieber each added 10 points. However, the Titans struggled offensively, shooting 33 percent from the field and just 4-of-17 from three-point range.
After a competitive first half, Tea Area went cold in the third, shooting just 2-of-14 as Lincoln seized control.
Lincoln, meanwhile, finished at 45 percent from the field and hit 11-of-13 free throws, steadily extending its lead to as many as 25 in the closing minutes.
With the win, Sioux Falls Lincoln advances to the Class AA semifinals, while Tea Area drops into the consolation bracket.