For the first time since 2006, the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal boys basketball team will be playing in the Dakota Valley Conference tournament championship game. The Cardinals earned the spot with a 70-55 win over the Colman-Egan Hawks in the semifinals on Thursday, January 23rd.
Colman-Egan held an early 6-2 lead in the first four minutes of a defensive-laden first quarter. Neither offense could get into much of a rhythm early in the game. The Cardinals then went on an 8-0 run to take a 10-6 lead with 2:30 to go in the quarter. The Hawks responded with a 6-0 run over the next minute to regain the lead at 12-10, but it was St Mary that held the lead at 16-14 after the first quarter of play. After the two teams traded three-point baskets to start the second quarter, the Cardinals went on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to 24-17. Colman-Egan made another run at St Mary tying the game at 25-25 with 2:10 to go in the first half. The Cardinals closed out the half with an 8-3 run to lead 33-28 at halftime.
The Hawks pulled within four points at 40-36 with 4:00 to go in the third quarter, but that was as close as St Mary would let them get. The Cardinals pushed their lead to as many as 13 points and led 55-45 at the end of the third quarter. Colman-Egan got the lead into the single digits a few times in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals never let the Hawks get any closer than within the four points from the third quarter. St Mary responded each time to push the lead back into double digits for the win.
St Mary finished the game shooting 44% (24-55) from the field, 42% (10-24) from three-point area, and 71% (12-17) from the free-throw line. They had a total of 23 team rebounds, 12 assists, nine steals, and only eight turnovers. Colman-Egan finished the game shooting 42% (18-43) from the field, but just 12% (2-17) from three-point area. The Hawks had 25 team rebounds and turn the ball over 12 times.
Three players finished in double figures for St Mary. Connor Libis had 34 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Max Herber added 12 points and two rebounds. Sam Palmer finished with 11 points and two steals. Weston Geraets had a team-highs in rebounds with nine, assists with four, and steals with three. Dalton Voelker led Colman-Egan with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists. Nate Tolley added 11 points and six rebounds.
The Cardinals (8-2) will play the Arlington Cardinals for the DVC championship on Saturday, January 25th at 6:30 p.m. in Colman. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.