Playing in their second game in less than 24 hours, the Dell Rapids Quarriers couldn’t solve the change of pace by the St Thomas More Cavaliers at the DWU Classic on Saturday, February 13th. The Cavaliers held Dell Rapids to their lowest point total of the season in a 63-53 victory.
The plan by the Cavaliers was obvious from their opening possession of the game. St Thomas More was going to slow the Quarriers down by holding the ball for almost the entire shot clock. The slow pace seemed to frustrate the Quarriers and kept them out of their comfort zone all game long.
The Cavaliers held a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 12-11. They pushed the lead eight points by halftime at 30-22. The Cavaliers continued to grow the lead in the third quarter and led 45-30 heading into the final quarter. Dell Rapids was finally able to get more into their offensive pace in the fourth quarter and scored nearly half of their points in the final period. The Quarriers cut the lead down to seven points, 48-41, with 3:34 to play, but the Cavaliers stopped the Quarrier rally.
Dell Rapids shot 50% (21-42) from the field, 39% (7-18) from three-point area, but only shot 4-of-8 from the free-throw line. The difference in the game came down to the free-throws. St Thomas More finished the game 14-for-18 from the line, while shooting 45% (21-47) from the field and 37% (7-19) from three-point area.
Brayden Pankonen finished with 12 points, two rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Connor Rentz had 11 points. Colin Rentz had 10 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Coby Maeschen added eight points and eight rebounds, and Avery Boechler had seven points and four assists.
Dell Rapids (11-6) will travel to Sisseton on Tuesday, February 16th. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.