Chamberlain girls fall to Spearfish at Class A tourney

WATERTOWN — The Chamberlain girls’ basketball team is still in search of its first win at this year’s Class A state tournament.

Despite holding a nine-point lead in the early stages of the third quarter, the Cubs fell to Spearfish 52-39 in the second round Friday in Watertown.

“We were able to get the ball in the post early in the third quarter,” Chamberlain coach Jeff Neuharth said, “but then they started to dig down on our post players. We had a couple of kids get in foul trouble, and they did a good job of closing out on our shooters.”

The Cubs lost their opening game of the tournament on Thursday to Pine Ridge. In that game, Chamberlain scored 34 points and was held to 25 percent shooting from the field.

Against Spearfish, Chamberlain was 14-of-45 for 31 percent from the field and 10-of-19 from the free-throw line.

“I thought we played much better (Friday) than we did (Thursday),” Neuharth said. “I think we have played two games at a really high effort. The girls are giving everything they have out there, and that is really the only thing I can ask for.”

Jaymee Knippling led the Cubs in scoring with nine points, Abbey Handel added seven and Kennedy Wagner scored four points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Spearfish was led by Bethany Crosswait and Kaitlin Spargur.

Crosswait scored a game-high 14 points and Spargur finished with 12.

Chamberlain plays Sioux Falls Christian in the seventh-place game at noon today in Watertown.

“We are going to have to play offensively well for four quarters,” Neuharth said. “We also have to find enough energy to keep up the defensive effort that we have been playing with the last two games if we want to beat Sioux Falls Christian.”

SPEARFISH 52, CHAMBERLAIN 39

CHAMBERLAIN (21-3): Wagner 2-2 0-2 4, Byrd 1-1 0-1 2, Pederson 0-5 4-4 4, Handel 2-5 2-2 7, Knippling 4-9 1-2 9, Pickner 2-3 0-2 4, Reuer 3-8 2-4 8, Thompson 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 14-45 10-19 39.

SPEARFISH (18-5): R. Engesser 2-4 0-0 4, T. Engesser 0-2 1-2 1, Crosswait 4-12 5-5 14, Hinch 2-7 2-2 6, Burket 0-3 0-0 0, Spargur 4-6 4-4 12, Thompson 2-5 0-0 4, Meeker 2-9 3-4 8, Senden 1-8 1-4 3. Totals: 17-56 16-21 52.

Chamberlain 12 25 33 39

Spearfish 9 23 37 52

3-pointers: Chamberlain 1-8 (Wagner 0-2, Pederson 0-5, Handel 1-1), Spearfish 2-12 (R. Engesser 0-2, Crosswait 1-3, Hinch 0-1, Burkey 0-2, Meeker 1-2, Senden 0-2). Rebounds: Chamberlain 32 (Wagner 8), Spearfish 31 (Hinch 7). Assists: Chamberlain 2 (Wagner 1, Handel 1), Spearfish 4 (Hinch 2). Total fouls: Chamberlain 21, Spearfish 18. Fouled out: Pickner.

Tags: state girls basketball, sports, basketball, updates, chamberlain