The West Central Trojan boys basketball team hosted the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Friday, December 8th to start the 2023-2024 season. The Trojans held a 51-43 lead with 1:45 to play in the game. Dell Rapids, however, scored nine straight points in less than a minute to help force overtime. The Quarriers then took the win in the overtime period, 61-59.
West Central trailed by five points, 17-12, at the end of the first quarter. The Trojan defense then held Dell Rapids to just eight points in the second quarter as they took a 28-25 lead into halftime. The score was tied 33-33 late in the third quarter, but West Central went on a 6-0 run for a 39-33 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Trojans held the lead for most of the fourth quarter and led 51-43 after two made free-throws with 1:45 to go. Dell Rapids made a three-point shot, and then the defense had three steals in the backcourt that led to three layups in a matter of forty seconds to take a 52-51 lead. West Central tied the score with a made free-throw late. Dell Rapids had a couple of shots to win in regulation, but could not get the basket to fall.
The Quarriers took a 61-56 lead late in the overtime period. The Trojans got a made three-point shot to make the score 61-59 with less than twenty seconds to play. They were then able to get a steal, but the last second shot fell short for West Central.
West Central shot 33% (17-52) overall, 33% (10-30) from three-point area, and 79% (15-19) from the free-throw line. Dell Rapids shot 35% (23-65) from the field overall, 22% (5-23) from three-point area, and 53% (10-19) from the free-throw line. The Trojans had 19 turnovers, and Dell Rapids had 15 turnovers.
Jake Kuhl finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Connor Mebius had 13 points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Will Kuhl had eight points and four rebounds. Brodie Herr added seven points, six rebounds, and three steals. Trevin Price and Carter Tetzlaff had five points and four rebounds each.
