The #7 seed Tri-Valley Mustangs gave the #2 seed Dell Rapids Quarriers all they could handle in the opening round of the Region 3A tournament on Tuesday, March 1st.  The Mustangs cut a 17-point deficit down to four points late in the fourth quarter, but the Quarriers held for a 75-67 win.

The first half was a low-scoring battle.  Dell Rapids held a 10-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.  They were able to push the lead to 10 points in the second, but the Mustangs battled back to cut the lead down to 27-24 by halftime.

Tri-Valley scored the first four points of the third quarter and led 28-27 with 7:20 left in the quarter.  The lead was short lived, however, as Dell Rapids went on a 12-2 run for a 39-30 lead with 4:45.  That lead grew to 17 points, 54-37, with just :35 left in the quarter.  Noah Haynes drained a half-court three pointer at the buzzer to make the score 54-40 heading into the final quarter.  The Mustangs kept chipping away at the lead all quarter long.  They had the deficit cut to 63-59 with 2:10 to go in the game, but unfortunately, that was as close as they could get.

Tri-Valley shot 42% (25-59) from the field, 44% (7-16) from three-point area, and 56% (10-18) from the free-throw line.  Dell Rapids was 42% (26-62) overall, 33% (6-18) on three pointers, and 74% (17-23) from the free-throw line.  Both teams had 12 total assists and six steals.

Connor Christensen had 15 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocked shots.  Cory McDonald finished with 19 points and seven rebounds.  Haynes added 18 points and six rebounds.  Brayden Oyen had seven points, and Lance DeWitt had six points.

The Mustangs season ends with an overall record of 5-16.

The Tri-Valley Mustang boys basketball team played their final regular season game of the year at Sioux Falls Christian on Friday, February 25th.  The Mustangs fell to the Chargers 62-34.

The Chargers started the game on a 10-2 run and led 15-6 at the end of the first quarter.  The Mustangs pulled within six points, 17-11, with 6:20 to go in the second quarter, but that was as close as they would get in the game.  Sioux Falls Christian led 33-15 at halftime.  The Chargers then outscored the Mustangs 29-19 in the second half.

Tri-Valley shot 27% (12-44) overall, 2-16 on three pointers, and 47% (8-17) from the free-throw line.  Sioux Falls Christian finished 34% (21-61) from the field, 19% (4-21) from three-point area, and 80% (16-20) from the free-throw line.

Cory McDonald had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.  Connor Christensen had seven points and eight rebounds.  Logan Ellison finished with five points, and Noah Haynes had four points and four rebounds.

The Mustangs finish the regular season with a record of 5-15.  They will play at Dell Rapids on Tuesday, March 1st in the opening round of the Region 3A tournament.

The Tri-Valley Mustangs led by nine points, 53-44, after a three-point basket by Brayden Oyen with 1:50 to play.  The Baltic Bulldogs made a 8-1 run and pulled within two points, 54-52, with only :22 to go, but the Mustangs held for a 55-52 win on Monday, February 21st.

Tri-Valley was firing on all cylinders in the first quarter.  They put themselves in front by 13 points, 20-7, by the end of the first quarter.  The Bulldogs tied the game with a 13-0 run to start the second quarter.  The Mustangs recovered and led 28-23 at halftime.

Baltic made another run in the third quarter and eventually took the lead, 35-34, with 2:05 to play in the quarter.  The teams traded baskets back-and-forth, and Tri-Valley held a 38-37 lead going into the fourth quarter.  The Mustangs went ahead 50-42 with 2:45 to go in the game.  After a made basket by the Bulldogs, Oyen hit a three pointer to give Tri-Valley a 53-44 lead with 1:50 to go.  Baltic then went on their 8-1 to cut the lead to 54-52 with :22 left.  The Bulldogs forced a five-second call and got the ball back.  Tri-Valley’s defense was able to hold as the Bulldogs missed a game-tying shot.  Cory McDonald grabbed the rebound with :02 on the clock and then made one of two free throws to seal the win.

The Mustangs shot 43% (21-49) from the field, 31% (4-13) from three-point area, and 47% (9-19) from the free-throw line.  Baltic finished 42% (20-48) overall, 41% (7-17) from three-point area, and 5-10 from the free-throw line.

McDonald finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists.  Lance DeWitt had 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists.  Connor Christensen added seven points, seven rebounds, and five blocked shots.  Noah Haynes had six points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.  Cole Focken had five points.

Tri-Valley (5-14) will finish the regular season on the road at Sioux Falls Christian on Friday, February 25th.

A first quarter scoring advantage proved to be the difference for the McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars as they defeated the Tri-Valley Mustangs 57-52 on Tuesday, February 15th.

The Cougars outscored Tri-Valley 18-13 in the first quarter and that difference stayed almost constant the entire game.  Every time the Mustangs got within two or three points, McCook Central/Montrose had an answer to push the lead back to five or seven points.  The Cougars led by five at halftime, 29-24.  Their lead was six points at the end of the third quarter, 47-41.  Tri-Valley got within three points, 55-52, after a three-pointer by Lance DeWitt with :15 to play, but the Cougars made two free throws to ice the game.

The Mustangs shot 42% (21-50) in the game, 29% (5-17) on three pointers, and 5-10 from the free-throw line.  McCook Central/Montrose finished 40% (21-53) shooting, 7-23 from three-point area, and 8-10 from the free-throw line.

Cory McDonald had 15 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.  DeWitt finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.  Connor Christensen also had 13 points along with eight rebounds, and two blocked shots.  Noah Haynes had seven points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Tri-Valley (4-14) will host Baltic on Monday, February 21st.

Lance DeWitt hit a buzzer-beater at the free-throw line to send the game into overtime, and from there the Tri-Valley Mustangs had the momentum.  The Mustangs defeated the Milbank Bulldogs 66-57 in overtime on Saturday, February 12th.

Neither team was able to get much advantage throughout the game.  Milbank had a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter at 15-12.  Tri-Valley held the Bulldogs to just seven points in the second quarter while taking a 26-22 lead into halftime.  Cory McDonald was on fire in the first half scoring 20 of the 26 Mustangs points.

Tri-Valley was able to keep their lead throughout the third quarter.  They took a 37-34 lead into the fourth quarter.  The Mustangs led by four points late in the fourth quarter, but Milbank hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to one, 52-21.  After a missed shot by Tri-Valley, there was a jump ball on the rebound with possession going to Milbank.  On their next possession, they hit another three-pointer from the left win with :11 left to give them a 54-52 lead.  DeWitt drove the length of the court and rose up at the free-throw line making the game-tying basket at the buzzer.  The Mustangs took that momentum and outscored Milbank 12-3 in overtime for the win.

The Mustangs shot 49% (29-59) from the field, went 1-13 from three-point area, and 7-14 from the free-throw line.  Milbank finished the game shooting 31% (17-55) overall, 28% (7-25) from three-point area, and 53% (16-30) from the free-throw line.

McDonald finished with 31 points, nine rebounds, and four rebounds.  DeWitt had 13 points, three rebounds, four steals, and two assists.  Connor Christensen had nine points, six rebounds, and four blocked shots.  Brayden Oyen had five points, three rebounds, and two assists.

Tri-Valley will host McCook Central/Montrose on Tuesday, February 15th.

Lennox opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run which lifted them to a 69-50 win over the Tri-Valley Mustangs on Monday, February 7th.

The Orioles built a five-point lead by the end of the first quarter, 15-10.  Tri-Valley hung with Lennox in the second quarter, and the Orioles led 35-27 at halftime.  The start of the third quarter gave Lennox all the momentum.  The Orioles went on a 9-0 run to start the quarter and outscored the Mustangs 21-8 for a 56-35 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Mustangs shot 43% (21-49) overall from the field, 29% (4-14) from three-point area, and a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line.  Lennox finished the game shooting 45% (26-58), 35% (9-26) from three-point area, and 62% (8-13) from the free-throw line.

Cory McDonald had 17 points and three rebounds in the game.  Noah Haynes had 12 points and four rebounds.  Lance DeWitt finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.  Connor Christensen added six points and six rebounds.

Tri-Valley will host Milbank on Saturday, February 12th.

The Tri-Valley Mustangs traveled to Dell Rapids to play the Quarriers on Thursday, February 3rd.  Dell Rapids took the win 71-63.

The two teams traded blows in the first half. The Quarrires were able break away for a five point lead by the end of the first quarter. Dell Rapids led 22-17 at the quarter break. That lead was short lived as Tri-Valley was able to get a four-point lead, 35-31, with 1:50 to play in the second quarter. The Quarriers ended the half on a 10-1 run for a 41-36 halftime lead.

Dell Rapids was able to hold the lead throughout the entire second half. The advantage grew to double digts, 56-44, heading into the fourth quarter. Tri-Valley tried to make a run late in the game, getting within five points, but Dell Rapids made enough free-throws in the closing minute in the win.

Tri-Valley finished the game shooting 46% (26-56) from the field, 33% (6-18) on three-pointers, and 38% (5-13) from the free-throw line.  The Quarriers were 50% (27-54) shooting, 39% (9-23) from three-point area, and 47% (8-17) from the free-throw line.

Four players finished in double figures for the Mustangs.  Cory McDonald had 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists.  Connor Chirstensen had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.  Noah Haynes nearly had a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.  Lance DeWitt also had 12 points along with five rebounds and three assists.

The Tri-Valley Mustang boys basketball team hosted the West Central Trojans on Tuesday, February 1st.  The Trojans cruised to a 67-33 road victory for their sixth win in a row.

West Central held Tri-Valley to five points in the first quarter and built a 14-5 lead.  They continued to roll from there.  Their lead grew to 36-14 at halftime.  West Central then outscored Tri-Valley 31-19 in the second half in the win.

Tri-Valley shot 35% (13-37) from the field, 18% (2-11) from three-point area, and 5-9 from the free-throw line.  Lance DeWitt had seven points.  Noah Haynes finished with six points and five rebounds.  Cory McDonald had six points and three rebounds.  Brayden Oyen added five points.

West Central finished the game shooting 44% (25-57) from the field, 33% (11-33) from three-point area, and 55% (6-11) from the free-throw line.  Braden Herr had 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Jack Linneman had 11 points and four assists.  Mubarak Ibrahim had nine points and six rebounds.  Grafton Stroup and Dillon Jackson both had eight points each.

The Mustangs will travel to Dell Rapids on Thursday, February 3rd.  The Trojans will travel to Tea also on Thursday.

The Sisseton Redmen avenged a season-opening loss to the Tri-Valley Mustangs on Saturday, January 29th.  Sisseton defeated the Mustangs 47-36 at the Dak-12/NEC Clash in Madison.

Sisseton got out to a double-digit lead in the opening quarter and was able to maintain the lead throughout the game.  The Redmen led 19-8 at the end of the first quarter and held an eight-point advantage, 27-19, at halftime.  The Mustangs got within six points, 34-28, at the end of the third quarter.  Sisseton, however, stopped the Tri-Valley ralley and outscored the Mustangs 13-8 in the fourth to win the game.

Cory McDonald led the way for the Mustangs with 10 points.  Noah Haynes had nine points.  Lance DeWitt finished with seven points, and Connor Christensen had four points.

The Mustangs will host West Central on Tuesday, February 1st.