The Class A Girls Basketball State Tournament is set for March 12-14 at the Watertown Civic Arena
No. 1 Hamlin 61, No. 8 Lakota Tech 52
Hamlin used a strong second half and a dominant performance in the paint from Addelyn Jensen to rally past Lakota Tech for a 61-52 victory in postseason girls basketball action Thursday.
Lakota Tech controlled the first half behind its perimeter shooting. The Raiders built an early lead in the opening quarter behind a pair of three-pointers from Lizzie Robinson and carried a narrow 12-11 advantage into the second period.
The Eagles briefly took the lead early in the second quarter, but Lakota Tech responded with a quick offensive burst. Addison Goings knocked down a three-pointer and Kate Robinson added two baskets during a stretch that helped the Raiders build a six-point advantage. Lakota Tech eventually took a 30-28 lead into halftime.
Hamlin turned the game after the break.
Jensen sparked the Eagles in the third quarter, scoring repeatedly inside as Hamlin outscored Lakota Tech 14-8 in the period. Addison Neuendorf also hit a key three-pointer during the run, helping the Eagles move in front 42-38 entering the fourth.
Hamlin extended the lead early in the final quarter when Jensen scored inside and Issie Steffensen knocked down a three-pointer to push the margin to six. Neuendorf later hit another three-pointer and added two free throws during a decisive stretch that stretched the advantage to double digits.
Lakota Tech tried to rally late behind Amelia Shangreaux and Kate Robinson, but Hamlin sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final minute.
Jensen led Hamlin with 22 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Neuendorf added 16 points and six assists, while Steffensen finished with 11 points and Paxton Neuendorf scored nine.
Lakota Tech had balanced scoring with four players in double figures. Shangreaux led the Raiders with 15 points, while Kate Robinson and Lizzie Robinson each scored 12. Goings added 11 points and three rebounds.
Hamlin outrebounded Lakota Tech 45-36 and shot 72.7% from the free-throw line, converting 16 of 22 attempts.
No. 5 Lennox 42, No. 4 Sioux Valley 28
Lennox relied on a strong defensive effort and control of the glass to secure a 42-28 victory over Sioux Valley in postseason girls basketball action Thursday.
The Orioles set the tone early, jumping out to a 5-0 lead behind Teagen Sturm, who scored the game’s first five points on a layup and a three-pointer. Lennox continued to build the advantage throughout the opening quarter, holding Sioux Valley to just two field goals while taking an 11-4 lead after the first period.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, but Lennox maintained control. Andie Peters knocked down a three-pointer midway through the period and Karlie Bosma added a late basket as the Orioles carried a 17-8 advantage into halftime.
Lennox slowly widened the gap in the third quarter. Bergan Musser scored six points during the period, including back-to-back baskets that pushed the lead to double digits. The Orioles led 26-14 heading into the final quarter.
Sioux Valley made its best push late in the fourth behind Masey Top and Kailey Cradduck, but Lennox answered with a balanced scoring attack to keep the Cossacks at bay and seal the 14-point win.
Musser led Lennox with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds while also collecting five steals. Tori Gerdes added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Sturm finished with nine points and three rebounds. Peters contributed four assists and Bosma added four assists and six rebounds.
Top paced Sioux Valley with 10 points off the bench, while Cradduck recorded six points and nine rebounds. Miley Keating also scored six points for the Cossacks.
Lennox finished with a 40-27 rebounding advantage and forced 21 Sioux Valley turnovers in the win.
No. 2 Mahpiya Luta 65, No. 7 West Central 42
Mahpya Luta used a dominant third quarter and strong inside play to pull away from West Central for a 65-42 victory in postseason girls basketball action Thursday.
Mahpya Luta jumped out quickly, opening the game on an 8-0 run fueled by Ashlan Carlow-Blount, who scored the first eight points for the Braves. West Central answered late in the quarter behind baskets from Abbi Thornton and Kacey Jaton to cut the deficit to 12-7 after the opening period.
The Trojans briefly grabbed the momentum in the second quarter. Jaton scored twice in the paint and Ellie Knight added a basket to give West Central a 17-15 lead midway through the period. Mahpya Luta responded before halftime, however, as Mya Mills knocked down a pair of three-pointers during a late run that pushed the Braves back in front 27-20 at the break.
Mahpya Luta took control after halftime.
The Braves erupted for 22 points in the third quarter, stretching the lead behind hot perimeter shooting from Mills and strong play inside from Carlow-Blount. Mills hit three three-pointers in the period, while Carlow-Blount continued to attack the paint to help Mahpya Luta build a 49-30 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
West Central tried to chip away in the final period behind Jaton, who finished with a team-high 14 points, including two three-pointers. Mackenzie Skonhovd added nine points and Thornton finished with seven points and three rebounds.
Carlow-Blount led Mahpya Luta with a game-high 24 points while also recording eight rebounds, six assists and six steals. Mills added 18 points and knocked down six three-pointers, while Dorthie Mesteth chipped in seven points and five assists.
Mahpya Luta controlled the interior and capitalized on turnovers, finishing with a 32-14 advantage in points in the paint and a 34-11 edge in points off turnovers.
No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian 61, No. 3 Wagner 49
Sioux Falls Christian used a strong second half and a dominant performance inside from Lezlei Setzer to pull away for a 61-49 victory over Wagner in postseason girls basketball action Thursday.
The Chargers established their inside presence early, scoring consistently in the paint. Setzer and Ruth Dvoracek combined for the team’s first three baskets as Sioux Falls Christian built an early lead. Wagner answered with perimeter shooting from Braxton Nedved and Mateya Bruguier, who each hit first-quarter three-pointers to keep the Red Raiders close. Sioux Falls Christian held a 15-12 lead after the opening quarter.
The second quarter turned into a defensive battle. Wagner briefly grabbed the lead midway through the period behind Ashlyn Koupal and Hannah Holzbauer, but Sioux Falls Christian responded late when Makinli Reitsma scored inside with 40 seconds left. Koupal hit two free throws in the closing seconds to tie the game at 23-23 heading into halftime.
Sioux Falls Christian seized momentum in the third quarter.
Setzer continued to control the paint while Dvoracek knocked down a key three-pointer late in the period. The Chargers closed the quarter on an 8-2 run, capped by a basket from Emory Lems with four seconds remaining to give Sioux Falls Christian a 39-31 advantage entering the fourth.
The Chargers extended the lead early in the final quarter. Dvoracek opened the period with a three-pointer, and baskets from Setzer and Lems helped push the lead to double digits. Wagner tried to rally behind outside shooting from Hayden Knudsen and Koupal, but Sioux Falls Christian answered with timely baskets and free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Setzer led Sioux Falls Christian with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Dvoracek added 18 points and five rebounds, while Lems finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Aubrie VanBeek contributed eight assists and three steals for the Chargers.
Wagner was led by Koupal with 15 points and nine rebounds. Nedved added 12 points with four three-pointers, while Holzbauer scored 10 points. Knudsen chipped in nine points, all on three-pointers.
Sioux Falls Christian controlled the interior, outscoring Wagner 34-8 in the paint and finishing with a 37-23 rebounding advantage.