RAPID CITY, S.D. — Mitchell girls basketball team saved its best stretch for the closing minutes Friday.
The No. 7 Kernels closed the game on a 14-3 run over the final 3:30 to defeat No. 6 Sioux Falls Jefferson 57-51 in the consolation bracket of the Class AA state tournament.
Mitchell (14-9) trailed by six points late in the fourth quarter before rallying behind clutch shooting and free throws down the stretch. The Kernels will now face No. 4 Rapid City Stevens in the fifth-place game Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
Nia Talley led Mitchell with a career-high 17 points and eight rebounds, helping spark the late comeback. Londyn Hajek added 13 points, including a key go-ahead three-pointer in the final two minutes, while Addie Siemsen and CeCe Morgan each finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Sioux Falls Jefferson (14-9) was paced by Brinley Altenburg, who poured in a game-high 31 points on 13-of-29 shooting and 4-of-17 from three.
Mitchell controlled much of the first half and led 25-21 at the break. The Kernels built their largest advantage of the game early in the second quarter, stretching the lead to 21-10 behind baskets from Siemsen and Morgan.
Jefferson responded in the third quarter as Altenburg caught fire, scoring multiple baskets during a run that helped the Cavaliers take their first lead of the game. A late bucket by Abby Horner gave Jefferson a 38-36 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers extended their lead to seven early in the final period after Altenburg hit a three-pointer to make it 43-36.
Mitchell slowly chipped away. Talley scored on back-to-back possessions, and Morgan added a basket inside to cut the deficit to three.
After Siemsen tied the game at 48 with a three-pointer, Hajek gave the Kernels the lead for good with another three with 1:36 remaining.
Mitchell sealed the victory at the free-throw line, going 15-of-19 overall.
The Kernels shot 45% from the field and made 15 of 19 free throws, while Jefferson finished at 41% shooting.
Mitchell also held a 30-23 rebounding advantage and forced 16 turnovers that led to 19 points.
Despite Altenburg’s big performance, the Cavaliers struggled to find consistent scoring elsewhere, with no other Jefferson player scoring in double figures.
With the win, Mitchell will look to close the tournament strong Saturday against Stevens in the fifth-place matchup.