ABERDEEN, S.D. — Freeman waited more than five decades for another state championship. On Saturday night, the wait finally ended.
Behind a dominant performance from David Walter, second-seeded Freeman pulled away late to defeat No. 5 Castlewood 61-53 in the Class B boys basketball state championship game at the Barnett Center.
The title is Freeman’s first since 1975 — a 61-55 win over Dell Rapids St. Mary — and comes in the program’s first championship appearance since 1997.
Walter delivered a championship-caliber effort, finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead Freeman (24-2). He scored inside and out, hitting three 3-pointers and going 7-of-10 from the free-throw line while anchoring the Eagles on the glass.
Freeman overcame an eight-point deficit after the first quarter and a 41-38 halftime hole by taking control in the second half. The Flyers shot 54% after halftime and outscored Castlewood 41-23 over the final two periods.
Luke Peters added 14 points and Tate Sorensen chipped in nine points and eight rebounds for Freeman, which dominated the boards 36-31 and capitalized on late free throws to seal the win.
Castlewood (22-4) was led by Kamden Keszler, who scored a game-high 24 points and knocked down five 3-pointers. Will Aderhold added 10 points and 10 rebounds, but the Warriors struggled to maintain their early momentum.
Castlewood came out firing, building a 19-11 lead after one quarter behind hot perimeter shooting. The Warriors extended the margin to as many as 13 points early in the third quarter before Freeman began chipping away.
The Flyers used a balanced attack to rally, tying the game at 36 late in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Luke Miller. From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle entering the fourth.
Freeman seized control midway through the final period. A 3-pointer by Peters gave the Eagles their first lead of the second half at 46-44, and they never trailed again. Walter and Tayden Kerrigan helped stretch the lead with key baskets and free throws down the stretch.
Castlewood struggled offensively late, shooting just 26.7% in the third quarter and finishing 3-of-9 from the free-throw line for the game.
Freeman closed the game at the line, hitting 15-of-23 free throws, including a string of makes in the final minute to put the game out of reach, to win their 22nd game in a row to cap of the season.
For Freeman, the victory marks a long-awaited return to the top and a championship 51 years in the making.