South Dakota Class AA State Tournament Recap: Day 1
Is there something going on today? A sickness? Full moon? Horoscope? Nope, it’s just state basketball tournament time. The 1pm games in the Barnett Arena didn’t go as planned for the #1 seeded O’Gorman Knights. They would fall to the…
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Continue ReadingIs there something going on today? A sickness? Full moon? Horoscope? Nope, it’s just state basketball tournament time. The 1pm games in the Barnett Arena didn’t go as planned for the #1 seeded O’Gorman Knights. They would fall to the #8 seeded Mitchell Kernels. That’s right #8 seed. (A little foreshadowing, it would happen on the Boys side as well, but were not talking about them). OG just couldn’t get right.
It took them 3 quarters to get Emma Ronsiek a bucket. When you’re arguably the best player in the state, that can’t happen. Ronsiek buried a deep three in the 3rd to cut the deficit to 40-35. Thee 4th quarter rolled around and OG found themselves trying a little bit of everything. Post up by Ronsiek. AND 1!! Or so we thought. The official called the foul on the ground. The two teams would then trade baskets back and forth. Something that OG could not afford to do. They needed stops and needed them bad. Mitchell had a few empty possessions. OG cut the lead again with another three, then immediately called a timeout. Mitchell’s Tayler Factor fouled out. She had been a pest on defense all season long. The foul sends Ronsiek to the line, knocking down two free throws. 51-46 Mitchell was up.
OG for some reason started launching threes from everywhere. They would fail to connect. Issy Moore did come up with a few rebounds. She was underneath the basket. One attempt after another, after another but she failed to connect. Finally, she drew a foul. Made the first then missed the second. Its was just that type of day for OG. Mitchell’s Payton Morgan is fouled, sent to the line and sinks two dagger free throws. Mitchell wins 63-54. They move on to play Brandon Valley in the semis. OG is now on the left side of the bracket to face Brookings.
In other games. Brandon Valley smothered Brookings with 68-37 win. The Lynx defense has been a staple the entire year, as they pounce on you like a jungle cat should.
Lincoln would be triumphant over cross town rival Washington. Neither team shot the ball well, which is expected between teams who know each other so well. 36-31 was the final. To put things in context, Brandon Valley scored more than both teams.
Final Four Matchups
Brandon Valley vs Mitchell
Lincoln vs Harrisburg