The Dell Rapids Quarrier boys basketball team played two games in less than 24 hours on Friday, February 14th and Saturday, February 15th, losing won and winning the other.
Dell Rapids traveled to Dakota Valley on Friday and ran into a hot-shooting Panther team. Dakota Valley shot 57% from the field, 55% from three-point area, and 91% from the free-throw line in an 87-72 victory of Dell Rapids. The Quarriers were 48% (23-48) from the field, but just 27% (6-22) from three-point area, and 74% (20-27) from the free-throw line in the game.
Both teams started out hot in the first quarter with the two teams combining for a total 41 first quarter points. Dakota Valley held a 23-18 lead heading into the second quarter. The Quarriers pulled within three points at 29-26 with 5:04 to play in the second quarter. Dakota Valley then went on a 17-0 run to end the quarter to lead 46-26 at halftime. Dell Rapids just couldn’t overcome the deficit. They pulled within 11 points once in the third quarter and then again with 4:22 to go in the game, but the Panthers never let them get any closer.
Three players finished in double figures. Colin Rentz had 16 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Hamsey Heinecke had 15 points and three rebounds. Carter Nelson added 10 points off the bench for Dell Rapids. Connor Rentz and Drew Van Regenmorter both had nine points each.
Dell Rapids then hopped on a bus Saturday morning to Mitchell to play the Rapid City Christian Comets at the DWU/Culvers Classic at the Corn Palace early Saturday afternoon. The Quarriers rebounded with an 87-60 win.
The Quarriers raced out to a 27-11 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. The lead for Dell Rapids grew to 48-26 by half time. The Quarriers continued to outscore the Comets in final two quarters as well as they outscore Rapid City Christian 39-34 in the second half.
Dell Rapids shot the ball well against the Comets shooting 52% (34-66) from the field, 43% (9-21) from three-point area, and 67% (10-15) from the free-throw line.
Colin Rentz, who was named the game’s MVP, finished with 22 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Connor Rentz had 12 points. Logan Ellingson also had 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Van Regenmorter, Heinecke, and Avery Boechler all had eight points each.
Dell Rapids (12-4) will host Sisseton on Tuesday, February 18th. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.