Photo taken and used with permission by Sara Stadem
The West Central Trojan girls basketball team took home third place at the 2022 South Dakota Class A Girls State Basketball Tournament held in Brookings Thursday, March 10th through Saturday, March 12th.
West Central 65, Dakota Valley 52
The Trojans faced a familiar Dak-12 opponent in the opening round of the tournament on Thursday. West Central, the #2 seed, played #7 Dakota Valley. The Panthers had an early 6-3 lead after a two-point basket by Jorja Van Den Hul, but that lead was short lived. The Trojans went on a 6-0 run and led 9-6 with 5:31 to play in the opening quarter. The Panthers pulled within one point, 12-11, with 2:03, but that was as close as they would get.
West Central finished the first quarter on a 6-2 run for an 18-13 lead. The Trojans were able to push the lead to 11 points, 32-21, after a three pointer by Addy Kramer with 1:59 to go in the first half. West Central led 35-23 at halftime. The Panthers were only able to get within seven points, 47-40, with 1:13 in the third quarter. The Trojans won the opening-round game 65-52.
Tabor Teel had 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Addy Kramer also had 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Rylee Haldeman finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Cambell Fischer had six points and four rebounds.
Hamlin 52, West Central 38
West Central then faced #3 Hamlin in the semifinals on Friday. The game was back and forth through three quarters of play. The Chargers had the an 11-9 advantage after the first quarter. The Trojans outscored Hamlin 13-9 in the second quarter for a 22-20 halftime lead. Hamlin had the scoring advantage in the third quarter. The Chargers led 33-32 heading into the fourth quarter.
Haldeman scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to give West Central a 34-33 lead with 6:02 to go in the game. That’s when things completely went the way of the Chargers. Hamlin went on a 16-0 run for a 49-36 lead with 1:15 to go in the game. The Chargers took the win 52-38.
Haldeman led the Trojans with 14 points and three rebounds. Teel added 10 points and seven rebounds. Kramer finished with seven points and seven rebounds. Josslin Jarding also finished with seven points.
West Central 62, Wagner 54
The Trojans met up with #1 seed Wagner Red Raiders in the third/fourth place game on Saturday evening. The two teams played to a 9-9 tie after the first quarter. Wagner had a three-point advantage, 24-21, at halftime.
West Central made their run in the second half. The Trojans opened the third quarter on a 6-0 run for a 27-24 lead just :57 into the half. Wagner eventually tied the game, 31-31, with 3:57 to go in the third quarter. West Central responded with a 7-0 run and led 38-31 after a three pointer by Fischer with 2:16 to go in the quarter. Wagner cut the lead to 40-38 heading into the fourth quarter.
The game was tied 40-40 and 42-42 early in the fourth quarter. West Central was leading 49-48 with 4:44 to play and then went on another run. The Trojans went on a 9-0 run and led 58-48 with 2:30 to go in the game. Wagner cut the lead to four points, 58-54, but the Trojans ended the game on a 6-0 run for the 62-54 win.
Kramer had 20 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Haldeman finished with 16 points and three assists. Teel had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Fischer had seven points and two rebounds. Jarding added six points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Tournament Awards
Besides taking home the third place trophy, West Central had some more tournament awards. The Trojan cheerleaders were awarded the “Spirit of Six” winners. Kramer and Haldeman were also All-Tournament selections.