The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal girls basketball team got revenge on their lone loss of the season at the Entringer Classic on Saturday, December 16th, at Colman-Egan High School. Playing the Estelline Redmen for the second time in three days, the Cardinals this time earned a 43-40 win to improve to 3-1 on the year.
The two teams were tied 5-5 about midway through the first quarter, but Estelline went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-5 lead with about 3:00 remaining in the quarter. St Mary closed out the first quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 12-10 after one period of play. The Cardinals scored the first nine points of the third quarter to make the run 14-0 over two quarters. St Mary led 19-12, but Estelline closed out the first half on a 5-0 run to cut the St Mary lead to 19-17 at halftime.
The Cardinals continued to roll offensively in the third quarter building a 33-23 lead. Estelline again would get the final points of the quarter to cut the lead to 33-26 at the end of the third quarter. Estelline then caught fire and scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 33-32. The two teams went back and forth through the middle portion of the fourth quarter. St Mary took a 41-38 lead late in the quarter, but Estelline pulled within a point at 41-40 with :10 to play. Estelline fouled Ella Heinitz with :04.9 to go. Heinitz made both free throws on the bonus free throws to give Dell Rapids a 43-40 lead. The last second shot at the buzzer by Estelline was no good, and St Mary held tough for the win.
Sydney Cook was named the game’s MVP. Cook finished with 10 points, 16 rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Heinitz had 12 points and four rebounds in the game. Maddie Schwebach finished with six points, and Adyn Heiniricy had five points.
St Mary (3-1) will host De Smet on Monday, December 18th. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.