The Dell Rapids Quarrier girls basketball season came to an end in the Round of 16 on Thursday, March 1st in Tea. The Quarriers fell to the Vermillion Tanagers 51-48.
The game was back and forth for much of the contest. Vermillion had the hot hand to start getting out to an 8-3 lead with 4:30 to play in the first quarter. Dell Rapids held Vermillion scoreless the rest of the quarter and went on an 8-0 run to take an 11-8 lead after the first quarter of play. The Tanagers were able to get the lead back and led 17-14 with 3:30 left in the half. The Quarriers again closed out the quarter on a little 6-3 run to tie the game at 20-20 at halftime.
Vermillion again got out to a fast start in the beginning of the third quarter. They matched their largest lead of five points at 29-24 with 4:55 to play in the third. Dell Rapids again tied the game two and a half minutes later at 30-30. The two teams then combined to make three total free throws the rest of the quarter as Vermillion had a 32-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The two teams were locked at 34-34 with 6:35 remaining in the game. Vermillion then went ahead 40-36 with 4:50 to go. Dell Rapids responded and tied the game at 40-40 with 4:14 to go. The Tanagers again grabbed the lead at 44-40 with 2:52 to go. The Quarriers then went on a 7-2 run to take a 47-46 lead after an Aspen Hansen three-point shot with 1:09 to go. Haleigh Melstad responded with a three-point shot of her own with :55 to go to give Vermillion the lead back at 49-47. Vermillion held a 51-48 lead after a couple of free-throws with :18 to go. Dell Rapids called a timeout with :06.7 on the clock. Arial Hoffman launched a three-point shot from the top of the key that just hit off the front of the rim with :02 to go and the rebound went out of bounds. The Tanager in-bound was tipped, but Vermillion was able to fall on the ball as time expired to grab the victory.
Two players finished in double figures for Dell Rapids. Jayda Knuppe finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Hansen had 13 points, three rebounds, and two steals. Emma Paul had nine points and five rebounds. Hoffman added eight points and two rebounds. Kaylee Hennen had three points, and Sydney Stofferahn had one point and three rebounds.
Dell Rapids has their season end with a 15-7 record. Vermillion advances to the State A tournament in Watertown March 8th through 10th.