RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Top-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln found itself in a fight Friday night.
Behind 24 points from Samuel DeGroot and a clutch defensive effort down the stretch, unbeaten Lincoln held off No. 4 Harrisburg 53-48 in the Class AA boys basketball state semifinals at the Monument Ice Arena.
The Patriots (23-0) advanced to the state championship game, but not without a scare. After winning the regular-season meeting by 13 points, Lincoln had to grind through one of its lowest-scoring performances of the season. Its 53 points marking the second-lowest total for a team averaging 71 per game.
Harrisburg (17-6) never led but stayed within striking distance throughout, pulling even twice in a tightly contested second half.
Lincoln led 26-25 at halftime before Harrisburg surged in the third quarter. The Tigers briefly grabbed momentum with a 7-0 run to open the half and later tied the game at 37 and 41. DeGroot answered each push, scoring in the paint and converting key free throws to keep the Patriots in front.
DeGroot finished 10 of 16 from the field and added five rebounds and four blocks, anchoring a Lincoln defense that limited Harrisburg to just seven points in the fourth quarter.
Lincoln created separation midway through the final period. Baskets by Owen Duffy and DeGroot pushed the lead to 49-42 with 5:38 remaining, and the Patriots maintained control from the free-throw line. Brody Schafer, who finished with 11 points and seven assists, knocked down four late free throws to seal it.
Harrisburg had chances late but struggled offensively in the fourth, shooting just 2 of 10 from the field. Cole Kooiker’s 3-pointer at the buzzer accounted for the final margin.
Stellen Larson led Harrisburg with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Kooiker and Crayton Jibben each added 11. The Tigers leaned heavily on perimeter shooting, hitting nine 3-pointers, but were outscored 32-12 in the paint.
Lincoln, which has now gone 45-2 over the past two seasons with both losses coming last year to Mitchell, used its interior presence and defense to survive a game that featured no lead changes and no ties after the opening minutes.
The Patriots will play for the Class AA state championship Saturday.