Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley
After taking a 7-4 lead in the first quarter, the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinals never trailed the rest of the game against the Chester Flyers. The Cardinals won 68-56 at home on Tuesday, December 28th.
The Flyers led 2-0 right away in the first quarter, and then again at 4-2, but a three-pointer by Ella Griffin gave the Cardinals a lead for the first time in the game. And it was a lead St Mary would not lose. The Cardinals extended the lead to 17-7 by the end of the first quarter. Chester did make a run in the second quarter. The Flyers pulled within a point, 21-20, late in the quarter, but St Mary finished the half on a 5-1 run for a 26-21 halftime lead.
The St Mary offense caught fire in the third quarter. The Cardinals were able to push the lead to 16 points, 45-29, late in the third quarter and led 45-32 at the break. St Mary then scored the first five points of the fourth quarter for a 50-32 lead. The Cardinals looked like they would cruise to the win, but Chester made one more push. The Flyers went on a 13-3 run to pull within eight points, 53-45, but St Mary went on a 10-0 run from that point (63-45) to put the game out of reach.
Every player for the Cardinals scored in the game. Madala Hanson had 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists. E. Griffin also had 13 points with three rebounds, and four assists. Whitney Warwick had nine points. Addyson Gilbert finished with eight points and three assists. Maya Heinitz and Sierra Klein ended with six points. Courtney Brown also had six points and three assists. Addison Libis finished with three points and five rebounds. Sydney Klein had two points and seven rebounds, and Brianna Griffin had two points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
St Mary (3-2) will host Garretson on Tuesday, January 3rd.