The Dell Rapids Quarriers got back in the winning column by beating the Elk Point-Jefferson Huskies 58-44 on Friday, December 21st, in Dell Rapids. The Quarriers led the entire game as they jumped out to an 11-4 lead after the first quarter. Dell Rapids extended the lead to 10 by halftime at 25-15. Dell Rapids led 40-28 after the third quarter as well.
Bryce Kock led the team with 16 points in the game. Cole Langer and Matt Kolbeck each had 10 points apiece, while Spencer Kerzman added eight points. Langer had 11 rebounds for Dell Rapids and Koch had nine. Langer also had six assists. Koch had five more blocks in the game. Elk Point-Jefferson was led by Blake Donnelly who had 15 points, and Brock Zeller had 10 points.
The Quarriers also had the advantage in many team statistical categories. The Quarriers out-rebounded the Huskies 38-28. Dell Rapids also had 18 assists as a team. The Quarriers were 14-20 from the free throw line, 4-15 from 3-point range and shot 20-40 from the field in the game.
Head Coach Jason Fersdahl said, “The team played great defense against a tall, strong EPJ team, limiting them to 4 first quarter points and holding their returning all-state player, Brock Zeller, to 11 points. Matt Kolbeck played outstanding defense the entire game on Zeller and the team did a great job of playing help side defense against him. We outrebounded the Huskies 38-28 for the game and we were able to get to the free throw line more consistently. Offensively we had great balance with four players with 8 or more points and we did a better job of getting the ball inside to our post players. Defensively, we must continue to get better at fighting through screens and communicating on screens. It was important to go into the Christmas break on a winning note; we have a string of very tough games coming up and we will work to keep getting better on both ends of the floor.”
The Quarriers improve to 3-1 on the year and 2-1 in the Big Sioux Conference. Dell Rapids will play Flandreau at the Entringer Classic in Brookings on Saturday, December 29th, in their next game. The game will be webcast on Big Sioux Media.