The Hamlin Chargers closed out the game on a 5-0 run in a 57-55 win over the De Smet Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 17th.
The battle of top teams in their respective classes was close throughout the game. The Chargers had a 19-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. The lead only grew to three points by halftime, 36-33. Hamlin held a five-to-six point lead throughout much of the third quarter and led 49-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the fourth quarter and tied the game 49-49 with 6:30 left in the game. A little over a minute later, Kadyn Fast gave the Bulldogs a 52-49 lead with a three-pointer. George Jensen put the Bulldogs ahead by three again, 55-52, with about 3:30 left in the game. Those were the final points De Smet scored. Hamlin finished the game on a 5-0 run for the win.
Damon Wilkinson had 25 points and 25 rebounds in the game. Jensen finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Kasen Janssen and Trace Van Regenmorter both had five points. Gannon Gruenhagen, Fast, and Thomas Aughenbaugh all had three points each. Fast had five rebounds, and Gruenhagen had four assists.
