After trailing by 15 points with 5:30 to go in the game, the Dell Rapids Quarriers fought back to pull within two points, but the Mt Vernon/Plankinton Titans knocked down their free throws to pull away with a 69-62 win in Dell Rapids on Tuesday, February 7th. This is the third straight loss suffered by the Quarriers.
The Titans ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run over the final 2:00 to take a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. Dell Rapids was able to trim the lead by a point by halftime at 30-26. The Quarriers were held to just eight total points in the third quarter and found themselves trailing 42-34 heading into the final quarter.
Mt Vernon/Plankinton went on a 9-2 run over the first 2:30 of the fourth quarter to pull ahead 51-36 with 5:30 remaining in the game. The Quarriers rallied for 13 straight points over the next 3:30 to get within two points at 51-49 with 2:00. The Titans hit 16 straight free throws over the final two minutes of the game and pulled away for the 69-62 win.
Dell Rapids shot 51% (29-57) from the field, 23% (3-13) from three-point area, and just 1-3 from the free throw line. The Quarriers had 36 team rebounds, 20 assists, but turned the ball over 16 times.
Austin Ellingson led the team in scoring with 16 points along with five assists. Jeffrey Schuch had 10 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. Mason Schmidt added nine points, and Tanner Heim had eight points. Heim also had 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Carson Rentz had seven points and four assists, while Sheldon Siemonsma had six points and seven rebounds.
Dell Rapids (11-5) will host Dakota Valley on Friday, February 10th, as part of a girls and boys double-header. Both games can be seen on Big Sioux Media.