State A: Dakota Valley rolls, Hamlin ends drought & a birthday buzzer-beater for Elk Point-Jefferson
Defending champion Dakota Valley and Sioux Falls Christian each rolled to victories, Elk Point-Jefferson prevailed at the buzzer and Hamlin ended years of waiting to highlight first-round play Thursday in the state Class A boys basketball tournament.
The tourney continues through Saturday in the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Friday's games included Hot Springs vs. Sioux Valley at noon and St. Thomas More vs. Mount Vernon-Plankinton at 1:45 p.m. in consolation semifinals and Dakota Valley vs. Hamlin at 6 p.m. and Elk Point-Jefferson vs. Sioux Falls Christian at 7:45 p.m. in semifinal games.
Here's some details on Thursday's first-round games:
No. 1 seed Dakota Valley 80, No. 8 Hot Springs 47
The defending champion Panthers pushed their all-time Class A state record winning streak to 51 games by shooting 57 percent (35 of 61) from the field.
Isaac Bruns scored 24 points to lead Dakota Valley (24-0), which also held a 35-33 rebounding advantage. Randy Rosenquist added 11 points and 16 rebounds and Sam Faldmo 10 points.
Preston Iverson tallied 17 points and Camron Maciejewski 10 for Hot Springs (19-5), which made 15 of 46 field-goal attempts for 33 percent.
No. 5 Hamlin 72, No. 4 Sioux Valley 64
The Chargers not only avenged a regular-season loss to fellow Lake Central Conference foe and two-time defending state runner-up Sioux Valley, they also garnered their first State A tournament win in 30 years and their first opening-round win in a state tournament since they took home the state B title in 1983.
The difference for Hamlin (20-3) was a 21-6 third-quarter surge that erased a 35-25 halftime deficit.
Easton Neuendorf drained 15 of 18 free throws, scored 22 points and added seven assists for the Chargers. Tyson Stevenson added 15 of his 19 points in the second half. Evan Stormo contributed 12 points off the bench and Brennan Keszler 10 points and six rebounds.
Oliver Vincent poured in 31 points and also made six assists for Sioux Valley (21-2), which also got 11 points and nine rebounds from Alec Squires, seven rebounds from Maverick Nelson and six points and six rebounds from Hudsyn Ruesink.
Hamlin shot 44 percent (20 of 45) from field, including 11-for-30 from 3-point range, and also made 21 of 28 free throws. Sioux Valley made only four of 25 3-point attempts and shot 40 percent (23 of 58) overall.
No, 7 Elk Point-Jefferson 53, No. 2 St. Thomas More
Devon Schmitz went a perfect 6-for-6 from 3-point range on his birthday, including the game winner at the buzzer to push the Huskies (18-5) into the semifinals. He finished with 18 points.
Evan Fornia added nine points and Chace Fornia eight rebounds for EPJ, which shot 50 percent (17 of 34) from the field and pulled down 27 rebounds.
**BUZZER BEATER**
No. 7 Elk Point-Jefferson upsets No. 2 St. Thomas More with a shot from Devon Schmitz at the horn. #SDHoops23 #SDPreps pic.twitter.com/e9wE1DPun1— SDPB Sports (@SDPBSports) March 17, 2023
Caleb Hollenbeck, who tied the game on a 3-pointer with four seconds left, poured in 32 points for the Cavaliers (20-3).
St. Thomas More shot only 31 percent (16 of 51) from the field and garnered 32 rebounds.
No. 3 Sioux Falls Christian 83, No. 6 Mount Vernon-Plankinton 55
Like the opening game of the day, the Chargers (20-4) took control in the opening quarter and cruised into the semifinals. They also shot very well, converting 35 of 64 field-goal attempts for 55 percent.
Cole Snyder notched 19 points, Ethan Bruns and Britton Mulder each 15 and Griffin Goodbary 10 for Sioux Falls Christian. Bruns also hauled in 10 rebounds.
SFC also gained a 37-27 advantage on glass.
Reed Rus finished with a 30-point, nine-rebound performance for MVP, which fell to 18-6.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Sioux Falls Christian also cruises into semifinals with 83-55 win.
