The De Smet Bulldogs won their third straight Class B title, and that has not been done since 1946-1948 by Webster. The Bulldogs earned wins over Viborg-Hurley, Aberdeen Christian, and then Lower Brule to take the 2023 South Dakota Class B state championship.
De Smet 51, Viborg-Hurley 47
The Bulldogs overcame a slow start in the first half against the Cougars on Thursday, March 16th. Viborg-Hurley led 15-9 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 27-17 by halftime. The Bulldogs put together a strong third quarter and got within a point, 37-36 going into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter went back and forth. Viborg-Hurley led 47-45 with 3:22 to go in the game, but the Bulldogs ended the game on a 6-0 run for the win.
De Smet shot 43% (21-49) from the field overall, 28% (5-18) from the three-point area, and 4-9 from the free-throw line. The Cougars shot 43% (16-37) overall, 46% (6-13) on three-point attempts, and 56% (9-16) from the free-throw line.
Damon Wilkinson had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Kaden Fast also had 14 points with two rebounds and two assists. Kasen Janssen finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. George Jensen added nine points, four rebounds, and two steals.
De Smet 46, Aberdeen Christian 31
The Bulldogs led start to finish in their semifinal game against the Knights on Friday, March 17th. De Smet led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter, 27-17 at halftime, and then 32-26 at the end of the third quarter. The Bulldog defense held Aberdeen Christian to just five points in the fourth quarter.
De Smet shot 39% (17-44) overall, 24% (4-17) from three-point area, and 57% (8-14) from the free-throw line. Aberdeen Christian shot 28% (13-46) from the field, just 9% (2-22) on three-point attempts, and 38% (3-8) from the free-throw line.
Fast had 11 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Jensen also had 11 points with six rebounds. Wilkinson finished with nine points, 16 rebounds, and two assists. Janssen had nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Gannon Gruenhagen finished with six points.
De Smet 62, Lower Brule 48
The Bulldogs took control of the game early in the second half in a 62-48 win in the championship game against Lower Brule on Saturday, March 18th. The Sioux led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs took a 27-26 lead into halftime. Lower Brule regained the lead 30-29 with 7:16 to play in the third quarter, but that was their last lead of the game. De Smet ended the quarter leading 43-36. The Bulldogs then outscored Lower Brule 19-12 in the final quarter.
De Smet finished the game shooting 38% (18-47) from the field, 37% (7-19) on three-point attempts, and 79% (19-24) from the free-throw line. Lower Brule shot 34% (18-53) overall, 22% (5-23) from three-point area, and 58% (7-12) from the free-throw line.
Wilkinson had 18 points and 20 rebounds. Tom Aughenbaugh finished with 16 points and three assists. Fast added 10 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Janssen had nine points and nine rebounds. Jensen ended with nine points and six rebounds.
