Friday's action of the SDHSAA state basketball championships consisted of the Semifinal and consolation semifinal games.
Semifinals
Class B
No. 1 Arlington 44 No. 4 Ethan 41
Arlington will play for a state girls basketball title for the first time in program history after a 44-41 semifinal win over Ethan. Three-point efficiency played a role as the Cardinals shot 36% from beyond the arc. Arlington was led by Jaelyn Huntimer who scored 24-points, including some clutch free throws in the final moments. Madeline Bartscher scored 15-points for Ethan in the contest as well.
No. 3 Centerville 52 No. 7 Lyman 45
Centerville defeated Lyman 52-45 on Friday night, and the Tornados are heading to the state title game for the first time since 2006. Centerville was led by Althea Gust and Emma Marshall. Both had 14-points for the Tornados. As a Team, the Tornados shot 40% from the floor. Jordyn Scott was the leading scorer for Lyman with 13-points.
Class A
No. 4 Vermillion 50 No. 1 Sisseton 47
Vermillion upset top seeded Sisseton in the ‘A’ semifinals with a 50-47 win. Both squads went cold down from the field in the final stages, and it was free throws that made the difference. Vermillion was 12 of 22 from the charity stripe, while Sisseton went 4 of 10. Chan Cleveland led the Tanagers in scoring with 15-points. Brooke Jensen scored 12, and Taylor Reuvers and Kasey Hanson both scored 11. Chloe Langager contributed 16-points for Sisseton.
No. 6 Tea Area 48 No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian
Tea Area won a thrilling semifinal game against Sioux Falls Christian 48-44. Katie Vasecka led the Titans with 16-points. She also had a couple of steals defensively. Mara Grant contributed 12-points for Tea Area. The Chargers were led by Aubrie VanBeek, who scored 10-points in the contest. She also grabbed four boards and had three steals.
Class AA
No. 1 O’Gorman 57 No. 4 Sioux Falls Jefferson 43
O’Gorman took care of Sioux Falls Jefferson 57-43 on Friday night. A solid performance for the Knights after narrowly escaping Rapid City Stevens in the quarterfinal round. O’Gorman shot 41-percent from the field. Mahli Abdouch scored 19-points for the nights and had six assists. Lucy Moore was second for the Knights in scoring with 17-points. Brin Altenburg led the Cavaliers with 15-points.
No. 3 Brandon Valley 51 No. 7 Harrisburg 36
Brandon Valley advances to the championship with a 51-36 win over Harrisburg in the semi’s. As a team, the Lynx shot 38-percent from the field in the game. Alyvia Padgett led Brandon Valley with 22-points, shooting 50% from the floor and going 7 for 7 on free throws. Abiga Flanagan and Maki Lawrenson each had 10-points for Harrisburg.
Consolation Semifinals
Class B
No. 5 Wall 62 No. 8 James Valley Christian 59
Wall defeated James Valley Christian 62-59 on Friday afternoon. The Vikings did shoot 51-percent from the field, but twenty-nine turnovers plagued them down the stretch. Paige Kjerstad led the Eagles in scoring with 20-points. She also led Wall in rebounds with seven boards and had a block a well. Kaylie Robinson led James Valley Christian with 17-points.
No. 2 Harding County 62 No. 6 Warner 57
Harding County erased a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Warner 62-57. Bailey Verhulst (17), Claire Verhulst (16), and Kaylen Padden (14) combined for 47-points in the contest for the Ranchers. As a team, Harding County had 15 combined steals. Kyra Marcuson led the scoring for Warner with 17-points.
Class A
No. 5 Mahpíya Lúta 62 No. 8 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 41
Mahpíya Lúta advances to the consolation championship after a 62-41 win over Mount Vernon/Plankinton on Friday afternoon. Jodene Hunter led the way for Mahpíya Lúta with 21 points. Ashlan Blount also contributed 15 points, nine assists, and four steals in the victory. Emilee Fox led Mount Vernon/Plankinton in scoring with 17-points. She also snagged nine rebounds in the contest.
No. 3 Flandreau 65 No. 7 Hanson 33
An impressive 53-percent resume from the floor helped Flandreau steam past Hanson on Friday 65-33 in the consolation semifinals. The Flyers were led in scoring by Lily Klein, who finished with 23-points. She also led the squad in rebounds with 13, and assists with six. Clair Sheppard scored 18-points for Flandreau as well. Eliza Oltmanns was the leading scorer for Hanson with nine-points.
Class AA
No. 5 Pierre TF Riggs 52 No. 8 Rapid City Stevens 45
Pierre TF Riggs will play in the ‘AA’ consolation championship after a Friday win over Rapid City Stevens 52-45. Reese Terwilliger led the Governors in scoring with 21-points. She also grabbed seven boards and recorded two steals. Lennix DuPris had 20-points as well for Pierre. Taaliyah Porter led the scoring for Stevens with 23-points.
No. 2 Mitchell 54 No. 6 Spearfish 43
Mitchell outlasted a cold fourth quarter of shooting to beat Spearfish 54-43 on Friday. Sawye Stoebner led the Kernels in scoring with 24-points, and in rebounds with 17. As a team, Mitchell shot 41-percent from the field. On the flip side, Spearfish shot 35-percent in the game. The Spartans were led by Dana Jozie, who scored 15-points in the contest.
Saturday's Schedule
Class B
7/8: No. 6 Warner vs No. 8 James Valley Christian - 12 pm MT
5/6: No. 2 Harding County vs No. 5 Wall - 1:45 pm MT
3/4: No. 4 Ethan vs No. 7 Lyman - 6 pm MT
Championship: No. 1 Arlington vs No. 3 Centerville - 7:45 pm MT
Class A
7/8: No. 7 Hanson vs No. 8 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton - 12 pm CT
5/6: No. 5 Mahpíya Lúta vs No. 3 Flandreau - 1:45 pm CT
3/4: No. 1 Sisseton vs No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian - 6 pm CT
Championship: No. 4 Vermillion vs No. 6 Tea Area - 7:45 pm CT
Class AA
7/8: No. 6 Spearfish vs No. 8 Rapid City Stevens - 12 pm CT
5/6: No. 2 Mitchell vs No. 5 Pierre TF Riggs - 1:45 pm CT
3/4: No. 4 Sioux Falls Jefferson vs No. 7 Harrisburg - 6 pm CT
Championship: No. 1 O'Gorman vs No. 3 Brandon Valley
