RAPID CITY, S.D. — No. 2 Sioux Falls Roosevelt advanced in the Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament with a 58-47 victory over No. 7 Brandon Valley at the Monument Ice Arena.
The Roughriders (17-4) relied on balanced scoring and timely shooting to build a lead they would maintain throughout the contest. Roosevelt opened the game with an 11-8 advantage after the first quarter, with Memphis Bylander contributing a 2-pointer and a pair of free throws. Capital Schmaus added early buckets, and Roosevelt’s defense pressured Brandon Valley into turnovers that led to easy transition points.
Brandon Valley (13-8) tried to keep pace in the second quarter, with Brayden Knutson hitting a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 12-11. But Roosevelt responded with points from Bryson Skogsberg and Akol Thyab, ending the first half with a 25-19 advantage. Roosevelt’s bench production proved key in the quarter, outscoring Brandon Valley 6-0.
In the third quarter, Roosevelt continued to pull away. Skogsberg’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 31-21, and Deondre Painter and Caelen Christion added inside points to keep Brandon Valley at bay. Brandon Valley’s Austin Dowd scored on consecutive drives to keep the Trojans within striking distance, but Roosevelt led 43-35 entering the fourth.
The Roughriders sealed the win in the fourth quarter behind strong shooting from Skogsberg, Bylander, and Justin Bilal. Roosevelt’s defense limited Brandon Valley to just 12 points in the quarter, forcing turnovers and controlling the boards. Brandon Valley cut the deficit to eight with a late 3-pointer from Lincoln McInerney, but Roosevelt maintained composure at the free-throw line and finished with a 58-47 victory.
Bylander led Roosevelt with 14 points, including key 3-pointers in the first half, while Skogsberg added 12 points and six rebounds. Schmaus scored 13 points with three assists, and Justin Bilal contributed seven points and three steals. For Brandon Valley, Ayuel Deng, Briggs Knutson, and Lincoln McInerney each scored 10 points, but the Trojans struggled to convert from beyond the arc, hitting just five 3-pointers on 22 attempts.