The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal boys played in their second straight overtime game, third this season, on Friday, January 4th in De Smet. This time, however, the Cardinals could not come away with the victory as the De Smet Bulldogs handed the Cardinals their first loss of the season by a score of 78-75 in double overtime.
The Bulldogs led for most of the game which started in the first quarter. De Smet led 21-9 at the first quarter break. The Cardinal offense found some momentum in the second quarter as St Mary was able to cut into the lead. De Smet led 34-27 at halftime.
De Smet kept their lead throughout the third quarter. They were able to increase the lead to eight points at 49-41 heading into the final quarter. Trailing by six points at 59-53 with under three minutes to play in the game, the Cardinals started to make their move. Noah Dennis pulled the Cardinals within three points at 59-56 with 1:04 to play after a made free throw. Connor Libis went from one end of the court to the other and made a layup to pull St Mary within a point at 59-58 with :28 to go. A foul put De Smet on the free throw line, and the Bulldogs made two free throws with :18 to go for a 61-58 lead. Libis then drained a three-point shot from the right wing with :03 to go to tie the game at 61-61 to force overtime.
Libis then hit a free-throw line jumper with 3:10 to go in the first overtime to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game at 63-61. The two teams traded baskets over the next minute, and the game was tied 65-65 with 2:10 to play. De Smet took the lead a three-point shot with about a minute to go at 69-68. Ethan Geraets went one for two from the free throw line with :41 to play in the first over time to tie the game at 69-69. After a defense stop for the Cardinals, St Mary had a chance to win the game. With :07 on the clock, Libis drove to the top of the key and launched a three point shot. The shot was off, and Dennis had a clean look at the offense rebound and put back, but the ball spun out of the hoop at the buzzer. The two teams were headed to double-overtime tied 69-69.
The Bulldogs took a 72-69 lead early in the second overtime on a three-point play. Libis pulled the Cardinals within a point at 72-71 after two made free throws moments later, but that was as close as St Mary could get in the second overtime period. The Bulldogs maintained a two-to-four point lead throughout much of the remainder of the overtime period. De Smet led 78-75 with :28 to go, but the game-tying three point shot was no good.
St Mary (6-1) will travel to White to play Deubrook Area on Friday, January 11th. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.