No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian and No. 2 Hamlin slated to meet for third time this season

RAPID CITY — Second-seeded Hamlin got the rematch it wanted and the opportunity to play for a state Class A boys basketball championship.

The Chargers (22-3) took control with a solid second quarter and rolled to a 62-45 semifinal win over Rapid City Christian in a semifinal game Friday night in the Summit Arena at the Barnett Center.

Hamlin, which will look to avenge two of its three losses when it meets No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (25-0) in the championship game at 8:45 p.m. tonight (Saturday). Hamlin is gunning for its first state championship since winning the Class B title in 1983.

"It's great. I'm happy for our kids," Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf said. "People don't understand how hard it is to get to the state tournament. This state tournament was completely loaded. All eight teams are very good and we're fortunate to get to where we are and to play one more, the last one tomorrow night."

Hamlin pushed its lead into double digits in the second quarter and held the comfortable lead throughout the second half.

Easton Neuendorf and Tyson Stevnson each scored 17 points and Zac VanMeeteren 13 for Hamlin, which made 20 of 45 field-goal attempts for 45 percent. Evan Stormo added seven points and 14 rebounds. VanMeeteren also had seven rebounds and Neuendorf five assists.

Simon Kieffer had 17 points, Julius Frog 13 points and seven rebounds and Benson Kieffer eight points for RCC, which made 17 of 54 field-goal attempts for 32 percent.

Sioux Falls Christian 50, Dakota Valley 48

Undefeated and top-seeded Sioux Falls Christian survived a fourth-quarter comeback by two-time defending state champion Dakota Valley to post the semifinal win.

SFC led 43-34 after three quarter. Dakota Valley pulled within 49-48 with 49 seconds left. Brant Wassenaar made one of two free throws with 36.6 seconds left to push Christian's lead to 50-48.

A 3-point attempt by Dakota Valley was off the mark and the Panthers were whistled for a foul on the rebound. Cooper Goodbary missed two free throws with 2.2 seconds left but grabbed the rebound after the second miss and the clock expired.

Griffen Goodbary's 20-point, nine-rebound efffort led the Chargers, who got 14 points from Cole Snyder and eight from Wassenar. They shot 41 percent (17 of 42) from the field.

Jaxson Wingert (20 points and eight rebounds), Logan Collette (13 points) and Luke Bruns (10 points) paced Dakota Valley, whcih shot 40 percent (17 of 43) from the field.

Sioux Valley 67, Groton Area 58

Sioux Valley's 6-foot-10 senior Alec Squires dominant through for the Cossacks and recorded 31 points and 12 rebound sin the consolation semifinal.

Maxwell Engebretson chipped in with 13 points, Jace Christensen eight and Hudsyn Ruesink and Boden Schiller seven each for Sioux Valley, which made 22 of 44 field-goal attempts for 50 percent.

Groton Area received 19 points from Ryder Johnson, 17 from Keegen Tracy, 11 from Lane Tietz and nine from Jacob Zak. Tracy also grabbed seven rebounds.

The Tigers drained 18 of 49 field-goal attempts for 37 percent.

Pine Ridge 79, Vermillion 63

Marvin Richard III tallied 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to guide Pine Ridge to the consolation semifinal win. Jaylin Rouillard added 26 points and Anthony Steele 13.

Pine Ridge converted 27 of 59 field-goal attempts for 46 percent comapred to 26 of 67 for 39 percent for Vermillion.

The Tanagers were led by Trey Hansen with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Carter Hansen and Bryson Skogsberg each contributed 13.

Saturday's Games

The schedule includes Vermillion vs. Groton Area for seventh place at 1 p.m. Central, Pine Ridge vs. Sioux Valley for the consolation championship at 2:45 p.m., Dakota Valley vs. Rapid City Christian for third place at 6 p.m. and Hamlin vs. Sioux Falls Christian for the championship at 8:45 p.m.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Final two days of state Class A boys basketball tournament