The Dell Rapids Quarrier boys basketball team got a big Dak-12 Conference win over the Lennox Orioles at home on Friday, February 18th. The Quarriers fought their way to a 55-50 victory.
Neither team led by any more than seven points the entire game in the back and forth battle. Lennox had 9-4 lead early in the first quarter, but Dell Rapids responded with an 8-0 run and finished the first quarter leading 16-12. The Orioles were able to old Dell Rapids to just eight points in the second quarter and took a 27-24 lead into halftime.
Lennox had a game-high seven-point lead, 31-24, after a 4-0 run to start the third quarter. The Quarriers went on an 15-3 run to lead 39-34 with 2:40 to play in the third quarter. The Orioles got the lead down to one, 41-40, heading into the fourth quarter. The two teams traded leads of two points throughout the fourth quarter. With the game tied 48-48 with 1:00 to go, Dell Rapids took the lead for good in a key offensive sequence. Landon Ruesink made a layup and was fouled with :51.6 left on the clock. Ruesink missed the free throw, but Aiden Boechler tipped the rebound out to Ruesink. Brayden Pankonen then made a layup with :35 left to play as Dell Rapids scored four points on one trip to their end of the floor for a 52-48 lead. The Quarriers made three of four free throws in the closing seconds for the win.
Dell Rapids shot 42% (22-53) from the field overall, just 2-12 on three pointers, and 56% (9-16) from the free-throw line. Lennox shot 33% (15-46) from the field, 21% (5-24) from three-point area, and 94% (15-16) from the free-throw line.
Jack Henry had 14 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Pankonen finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Boechler had nine points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Shane Stone also had nine points along with five rebounds. Ruesink added six points and five rebounds.
Dell Rapids (13-6) will end the regular season at home against Garretson on Monday, February 21st.