In what can only be described as an epic finish, the Dell Rapids Quarriers went on a 10-0 run in the final 1:12 of the game to pull off an incredible come-from-behind win over the Madison Bulldogs 56-53 in Region 3A semifinal action from the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls.
Mitch Hansen made two free-throws for Madison with 1:19 left in the game to give Madison a 53-46 lead. The comeback started with a three-point shot from the corner by Mason Schmidt with 1:08 to go. Just seven seconds later, Ty Hoglund made a layup after a steal of the inbound pass, and Dell Rapids trailed 53-51 with 1:01 to go. Mason Peter stole the next inbound pass, and found Sam White for the game-tying layup with :53 on the clock. Mason Leighton ran the clock down to :25 for Madison before making his drive to the basket. His layup attempt was blocked by White, and the Quarriers had the ball with :16 left in the game. Hoglund walked the ball across half court and drained a near 30-foot three-point shot with :03 on the clock. Tanner Burg to the inbound pass after a timeout and got off a shot at the top of the key for Madison, but it fell away no good, and Dell Rapids pulled out the comeback win.
“I’ve watched a lot of basketball over the years, I don’t know if I’ve seen a minute and a half like that. We’ve got a group of kids that never quit…never quit believing. We said in that two minute timeout we have to find a way, and everybody believe that. And we found a way. It took everything we had, but we found a way,” said Dell Rapids head coach Jason Fersdahl.
The Quarriers had a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter at 13-11. Dell Rapids was able to push the lead to 18-14 with 4:00 to go in the second quarter, but Madison outscored the Quarriers 11-4 in the final 4:00 to take a 25-22 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs maintained a five-to-seven point lead throughout much of the second half. Madison even held a 47-38 lead with 3:25 to go in the fourth quarter.
Dell Rapids finished the night shooting 33% (18-55) from the field and 83% (16-19) from the free-throw line. Madison shot 40% (16-40) from the field and 65% (13-20) from the free-throw line. Madison out rebounded the Quarriers 32-30 in the game.
Hoglund finished with 30 points and four assists for Dell Rapids. Jeffrey Schuch grabbed 14 rebounds. Madison was led by Taner DenHoed with 14 points.
“We have to get ready to go again. We found a way to continue our season tonight, and we want to go out and play hard Tuesday night and continue our season after that one as well,” said Fersdahl.
The Quarriers will play Sioux Falls Christian for the Region 3A Championship on Tuesday, March 8th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Elmen Center. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.