PARKSTON -- The Ethan Rustlers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back Saturday.
The No. 4 Ruster girls basketball team upset No. 3 Sully Buttes 48-42 on Saturday at the Parkston Classic.
The Rustlers jumped out to an 8-0 advantage to open the contest as Kacey Bartscher hit two 3-pointers and Janae Gustafson added a basket.
“It was a nice win for our girls,” Ethan first-year head coach Tom Young said. “It’s been a while since these girls have been in a really big game like this where we played a high-ranked team. I’m proud of how our girls finished the game. We knew the girls were tired in the second and fourth quarters, but they persevered.”
After a strong start, the second quarter proved to be a nightmare for the Rustlers. Ethan managed one field goal in the quarter -- which came with 40 seconds left until halftime -- and six points from the free throw line.
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The Chargers (2-1) took advantage and were able to tie the contest at 17, but Sully Buttes could not grab the lead. Ethan (5-0) led 25-23 at intermission.
“It’s a game of runs and of high emotions, and we started out really well, and we might have had an emotional letdown,” Young said of his team’s second quarter.
With 38 seconds to play in the game and the Rustlers leading 44-42, Ethan’s Ellie Hohn took an inbound pass and made a layup and was fouled, sealing the win for the Rustlers. She missed the free throw but the damage was done and the Chargers couldn’t recover.
The Rustlers were 12-of-22 from the free throw line and they committed 14 turnovers. Rachel Hawkins and Bartscher led Ethan with 12 points apiece. Darbi Gustafson added 10 points and six rebounds.
The Chargers were led by Racquel Wientjes with 18 points and six rebounds. Erin Foth chipped in with 10 points. Sully Buttes was 3-of-6 from the free throw line and turned the ball over 14 times.
“We didn’t move the ball very well,” Sully Buttes coach Mark Senftner said. “We just didn’t attack. The game came down to our defense, which wasn’t very good. (Ethan) lived on the free throw line and layups and when you do that, it’s hard to win.”
Ethan travels to Mount Vernon/Plankinton on Friday, while Sully Buttes will take on Dakota Christian Tuesday.
E 16 25 33 48 SB 8 23 32 42
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Chester Area 53, Corsica/Stickney 50
PARKSTON -- Jenna Reiff’s double-double led Chester Area past Corsica/Stickney in a high school girls basketball game at the Parkston Classic on Saturday in Parkston.
Reiff scored 25 points and hauled in 14 rebounds, while Sara Heyn added nine points in the win.
Corsica/Stickney’s Hope Menning scored a game-high 30 points for the Jaguars, while Micayla Bamberg added 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
Corsica/Stickney (3-3) plays Scotland today in Scotland. Chester (3-2) plays Dell Rapids St. Mary today in Dell Rapids.
C/S10 23 35 50
C17 30 41 53
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Wagner 64, Dell Rapids 60
PARKSTON -- Wagner’s 14 fourth-quarter points proved to be enough as they outlasted Dell Rapids 64-60 in a high school girls basketball game on Saturday at the Parkston Classic in Parkston.
Four Wagner players scored double-figures in the win with Ali Kuca scoring a team-high 18 points. Emily Brunsing, Bethany Sully and Brooke Roth each added 12 points in the win.
Both Brunsing and Kuca finished with double-doubles as Brunsing pulled down 12 rebounds and Kuca had 11.
Mikaela Stofferahn scored 18 points to lead Dell Rapids.
Wagner (2-2) plays Hanson on Jan. 6 in Wagner. Dell Rapids (3-1) plays McCook Central/Montrose today in Salem.
W25 35 48 64
DR11 29 48 60
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Hanson 49, Highmore-Harrold 40
PARKSTON -- Sarah Kayser’s double-double helped the Hanson Beavers top Highmore-Harrold 49-40 in a high school girls basketball game at the Parkston Classic on Saturday in Parkston.
Kayser had 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Katlyn Schroeder added 12 points and six rebounds for the Beavers.
Highmore-Harrold was led by Sydney Cowan’s double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Rachel Houdek added 16 points in the loss.
Hanson (6-1) plays Wagner on Jan. 6 in Wagner. Highmore-Harrold (5-1) plays Wessington Springs on Tuesday in Highmore.
H13 23 34 49
HH12 23 30 40
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Mount Vernon/Plankinton 89, Groton Area 44
PARKSTON -- The Mount Vernon/Plankinton girls basketball team shot 61 percent on 33-of-54 shooting on field goals in an 89-44 win over Groton Area at the Parkston Classic on Saturday in Parkston.
Makaela Karts led the Titans with 23 points, while Dani Stoltz and Erin Denning each chipped in with 12 points.
Courtney Kurtz led all scorers with 24 points for Groton Area.
Mount Vernon/Plankinton (3-1) plays Gregory on Tuesday in Gregory. Groton Area (3-2) plays Langford on Jan. 5.
MVP19 41 61 89
G 9 23 38 44
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St. Thomas More 73, Tri-Valley 50
PARKSTON -- Alexys Swedlund scored 29 points for St. Thomas More as it beat Tri-Valley 73-50 in a high school girls basketball game at the Parkston Classic on Saturday in Parkston.
Sam Sommer scored 17 points to lead Tri-Valley.
St. Thomas More (6-0) plays Redfield/Doland on Jan. 9 in Redfield. Tri-Valley (5-1) plays Vermillion in Colton on Saturday.
STM21 40 59 73
TV12 21 32 50
Parkston 52, Aberdeen Roncalli 40
PARKSTON -- The Parkston Trojans girls basketball team closed out the Parkston Classic with a 52-40 win over Aberdeen Roncalli on Saturday in Parkston.
Halli Heisinger led the Trojans with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Sadie Schoenfelder and Sam Kinneberg each dished out three assists in the win.
Aberdeen Roncalli’s Jamie Eqart and Cassi Kulm each scored eight points in the loss.
Parkston (5-1) plays at Winner on Saturday in Winner. Aberdeen Roncalli (3-4) plays Leola/Frederick on Jan. 9 in Leola.
P10 28 43 52
AR 6 14 25 40
