South Central boys top Cadets, win District 12B title

Playing tough defense, the South Central Cougars won the District 12B championship 60-41 over the Dakota Christian Cadets Friday at the Corn Palace in a boys' high school basketball game.

Leading 8-5 with 3:33 left in the opening quarter, the Cougars closed out the period with a 6-2 run and a 14-7 lead.

DC opened the second quarter getting a free throw and basket from Carter Dykstra to pull to within 14-10.

But SC answered with a three-point basket from Zach Sebern and the Cougars hit seven of eight free throws to close the half with a 26-16 lead.

With their defense, SC forced turnovers and never let DC get any rhythm offensively, according to Cougars coach Clayton Steele.

“We have depended on our defense all year,” Steele said. “We aren’t very big, but the kids work together hard. We emphasize defense and they don’t mind it. They aren’t afraid to go out there and play defense.”

In the third quarter, a basket from Josh Tuttle gave the Cougars a 34-19 lead. The Cadets got a basket from Darren Fallis and a three-point shot from Owen Medicine get to within 34-24, but baskets from Tuttle and San Hazen pushed the lead to 38-24 to end the third period.

SC ran out to a 50-31 lead with 4:10 left in the game and it was never threatened again.

The Cougars had four players in double figures, led by Tuttle with 16 points, Garrett Bruns with 13 points and Dakota Votaw and Hazen with 10 points each.

The Cougars (20-2) were 23-of-36 for 64 percent from the floor and 13-of-16 for 81 percent from the free-throw line. SC had 20 rebounds and seven turnovers.

“We just didn’t handle their defensive pressure at all,” DC coach Chad Vander Pol said. “But to (South Central’s) credit, they took us out of our game.”

Dykstra led the Cadets with 12 points and Jake Spoelstra with 10 points.

DC (10-11) made 17 of 45 field goals for 38 percent and four of 12 free throws for 33 percent. The Cadets grabbed 27 rebounds and turned the ball over 13 times.

The Cougars play in the Region 6B game Tuesday at the Corn Palace 8 p.m. against District 11B champion Hanson or Ethan, which will be decided today at the Corn Palace. The winner of that game will get a state tournament berth.

SC 14 26 38 60

DC 7 16 24 41

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