Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley
The Dell Rapids Quarrier boys basketball team played their final regular season game on Monday, February 22nd at Garretson. The Quarriers ended the season on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Blue Dragons 62-54.
The Quarriers found themselves in another tight battle in their fourth straight road game. Garretson led by two points, 10-8, with 1:49 to go in the first quarter. The Quarriers ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to lead 13-10. They pushed the lead to nine points at 20-11 with 4:00 left in the first half. Garretson got within three points at 22-19, but Dell Rapids ended the half on a 6-0 run to lead 28-19.
Dell Rapids then led by as many as 11 points, 41-30, with 2:00 left in the third quarter. The Blue Dragons went on an 8-2 run to in the final minutes of third quarter to make the score 43-38 heading into the fourth. Garretson scored the first three points of the fourth quarter, but 43-41 was as close as they could get. Every time the Blue Dragons got within a couple of points, Dell Rapids had an answer. The Quarriers were able to extend their lead to 10 points, 56-46, after a three-pointer by Brayden Pankonen with 2:30 left in the game to give the Quarriers enough of a cushion for the win.
Dell Rapids finished the game shooting 42% (25-60) from the field, but only 18% (4-22) from three-point area. They were 57% (8-14) from the free-throw line.
Colin Rentz led the team with 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Pankonen had 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Carter Nelson also had double figures with 10 points along with six rebounds. Coby Maeschen had seven rebounds.
The Quarriers finish the regular season with a 14-6 record.