The Dell Rapids Quarriers mounted a furious second-half comeback, but the Rapid City Christian Comets held off the Quarriers for a 69-54 win in the SoDak 16 in Murdo on Tuesday, March 11th.
The Comets built a 17-9 lead in the first quarter, but Dell Rapids scored the last four points to cut the lead to 17-13 at the end of the quarter. Rapid City Christian went on a big run to start the second quarter that proved to be the difference in the game. The Comets went on a 14-0 run to extend the lead to 31-13 with 4:00 to play in the half. Rapid City Christian led 38-22 at halftime.
Their lead extended to 45-26 with 5:45 to go in the third quarter. Dell Rapids then went on their second half comeback run. The Quarriers cut the lead to 47-39 with 2:30 to go in the third quarter after a 13-2 run. Dell Rapids made the score 51-44 going into the fourth quarter. The Quarriers cut the lead down to 52-46 with 6:45 to play in the game. They had a chance to make it a three-point game, but a missed three-point shot with 6:15 to go turned into a made three-point shot by the Comets ten seconds later to make the score 55-46. That sequence of events shifted the momentum back to Rapid City Christian. The Comets made 11 of 14 free throws in the final quarter to pull away for the win.
Dell Rapids shot 43% (16-37) from the field overall, 50% (6-12) on three-point shots, and 59% (16-27) from the free-throw line. Rapid City Christian finished the game shooting 38% (21-56) overall, 33% (8-24) on three-point attempts, and 70% (19-27) from the free-throw line.
Jack Kloth had 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots. Tad Tjaden also finished with 15 points with six rebounds and two assists. Karsen Paye ended with eight points, three rebounds, and two assists. Lincoln Anderson had five points, Jackson Peppel had four points, and Lincoln Fersdahl and Carson Maeschen both had three points each.
