The Dell Rapids Quarriers held off a furious rally late in the game by the Vermillion Tanagers to win their sixth straight game and eighth out of their last nine on Thursday, January 26th, in Vermillion.
Both offenses were streaky through the first three quarters of the game. The Tanagers raced out to a 7-1 lead early in the game, but Dell Rapids answered with a 9-0 run to close out the first quarter for a 10-7 lead. Vermillion started the second quarter with another run. The Tanagers went on a 7-2 run to take a 14-12 lead, but once again the Quarriers answered. Dell Rapids finished the half on a 12-2 run to lead 24-16 at halftime.
Vermillion again started the third quarter with a little run to pull within three points at 26-29. Again the Quarriers had an answer to close out the third quarter to push the lead back to eight points by the end of the quarter at 34-26. Multiple times Vermillion was able to cut the lead in half in the fourth quarter. The Tanagers trailed 41-45 and then again 47-51 late in the fourth. Vermillion pulled within two points at 50-52, but Emma Paul knocked down two free throws with :06.1 left on the clock to make it a four point game at 54-53. Madisen Martinez made a three-point shot with just a couple of seconds on the clock, but the Tanagers were out of timeouts, and the Quarriers did not inbound the ball and let the clock run out for the 54-53 win.
Jayda Knuppe led the Quarriers with 21 points and six rebounds in the game. Emma Paul added nine points and six rebounds. Kali Graham added eight points, and Arial Hoffman finished with seven points. Graham and Hoffman both pulled down four rebounds in the game.
Dell Rapids (10-4) will play in the Dak-12 Conference Classic on Saturday, January 28th, in Dell Rapids. The Quarriers are the #3 seed and will play #4 West Central at around 5:00 p.m. All the games of the Dak-12 Conference Classic will be broadcast on Big Sioux Media. First game starts at 10:00 a.m.