RAPID CITY — The State Class A Boys Basketball Tournament kicked off at Summit Arena at The Monument on Thursday afternoon with Sioux Falls Chrisitan, Dakota Valley and Hamlin advancing to Friday’s semifinals.
Sioux Falls Christian will face Dakota Valley in Friday’s first semifinal at 7 p.m. CT with Hamlin and Rapid City Christian squaring off in the second semifinal at approximately 8:45 CT.
The top-seeded Chargers rolled in their tournament opener, defeating Vermillion in the first game of the tournament.
The Tanagers hung around early, trailing 15-10 midway through the first quarter before the Chargers went on a 7-1 run to take a 22-11 lead. Vermillion scored the first six points of the second quarter to make it a 22-17 game but the Chargers took off for a 24-4 run over the final 6:34 of the first half to take a 46-21 lead into halftime.
The run was separation the Chargers needed to tilt the game in their favor as they led 56-35 at the end of the third quarter and out-scored the Tanagers 18-13 to put the game away in the fourth quarter.
Griffen Goodbarry had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Chargers. Brant Wassenaar had 14 points and nine rebounds and Cooper Goodbarry had 12 points. Carson Nickles had nine points and Britton Mulder had six points.
Bryson Skogsburg led Vermillion with 15 points and eight rebounds. Zoan Robinson and Trey Hansen had seven points each. Carter Hansen and Cole Tweten had five points each.
Sioux Falls Christian shot 50 percent in the game including 6-for-23 (26%) on 3-pointers. The Chargers went 7-of-10 from the free throw line, had 40 rebounds and four turnovers.
Vermillion shot 34 percent in the game including 1-for-13 (7%) on 3-pointers. The Tanagers went 13-of-21 (61%) from the free throw line, grabbed 29 rebounds and had 10 turnovers.
The Panthers held off a late rally to defeat the Thorpes in the second game of the afternoon session.
Pine Ridge held a 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter but the Panthers scored the final six points of the second quarter to take a 29-23 lead into halftime. Dakota Valley’s lead swelled up to 14 points with a 46-32 lead at the end of the third quarter and led 59-47 with 57 seconds to go.
Pine Ridge mounted a last-minute rally with an 8-0 run to get the lead down to 59-55 with 18 seconds left but a pair of free throws by Logan Collette put the game on ice and led the Panthers to the semifinals.
Luke Bruns led Dakota Valley with 24 points and nine rebounds. Jason Wingert also scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Grant Vandenhul had seven points and five rebounds while Logan Collette had seven points and nine rebounds.
Marvin Richard III led Pine Ridge with 30 points. Jaylin Rouillard had 15 points. Xavier Little had seven points and seven rebounds.
Dakota Valley shot 42 percent including 3-for-12 (25%) on 3-pointers. The Panthers went 13-of-17 (76%) on free throws, grabbed 30 rebounds and committed 13 turnovers.
Pine Ridge shot 37 percent in the game including 11-for-31 (35%) on 3-pointers. The Thorpes made 7-of-13 (53%) free throws, grabbed 31 rebounds and committed nine turnovers.
Easton Neuendorf’s free throw with five seconds to play helped the Chargers hold off Groton Area in the quarterfinals.
The Chargers took an 11-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and went into halftime up 28-22. The Tigers went on a 17-4 run to take a 37-33 lead on Lane Tietz’s 3-pointer with 2:58 left in the third quarter and led 37-35 going into the fourth quarter.
The Chargers and Tigers battled to a 43-43 tie on Zach Vanmeeteren’s layup with 3:24 to play and the game turned into a defensive battle until Vanmeeteren’s jumper with 1:44 to play. Ryder Johnson tied the game for Groton Area with a layup with 39 seconds to go but Neuendorf was fouled on Hamlin’s final possession, knocking down the first of two free throws to put the game away.
Neuendorf led the Chargers with 17 points and five assists. Tyson Stevenson had 10 points. Even Stormo had eight points and eight rebounds. Vanmeeteren had six points and nine rebounds and Jak Wadsworth had five points.
Hamlin shot 42 percent in the game including 4-of-15 (26%) on 3-pointers. The Chargers made 10-of-15 (66%) free throws, grabbed 24 rebounds and committed 13 turnovers.
Groton Area shot 42 percent in the game including 2-for-11 (18%) on 3-pointers. The Tigers went 9-for-13 (69%) from the free throw line, grabbed 24 rebounds and committed 13 turnovers.
