ABERDEEN — A hot shooting performance for Lower Brule spurred the top-seeded Sioux to a 67-55 win over No. 8 Castlewood in the opening round of the Class B state tournament.
The Sioux started 7-for-7 from the floor, assisting on five of the seven baskets, as they finished the first half at 75% (15 of 20) from the floor. Gavin Thigh led the first-half charge with 20 points on 6-for-6 shooting, including four 3-pointers.
Lower Brule ended the game at 56.8% (25 of 44) from the field and 47.1% (8 of 17) from 3-point range in the win. Thigh ended the contest with 34 points, while Brian LaRoche Jr. chipped in 15. Lane Gary had five assists in the win.
For Castlewood, Bryon Laue scored 25 points and pulled down 14 rebounds — seven offensive and seven defensive. Quincy Thu put up 11 points in the loss.
Lower Brule (21-3) advances to the semifinal to take on White River, while Castlewood (15-5) squares off with Faith in the consolation bracket.
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White River 72, Faith 56
ABERDEEN — Joe Sayler and Nicolas Marshall combined for 45 points, as No. 5 White River moved past No. 4 Faith, 72-56 in the opening round of the Class B state tournament.
Sayler put up a game-high 24 points, while Marshall tacked on 21 as well as seven assists in the win, as the Tigers shot 54.9% (28 of 51) from the floor. Elsewhere for White River, Evastine Wright had 11 points.
The Longhorns had three players score in double figures, led by 15 a piece from Caden Selby and Jackson Schauer. Rylan Palmer had 12 points, as Faith connected on 48.9% (22 of 45) of its shots on the game.
White River won the rebound battle 27-21 and forced 12 turnovers compared to the nine Faith caused.
The Tigers (20-4) will battle with Lower Brule for a spot in the Class B title game, while Faith (22-2) advances to the consolation bracket to face Castlewood.
De Smet 51, Viborg-Hurley 47
ABERDEEN — Third-seeded De Smet shook off a 10-point halftime deficit and eked out a 51-47 win over No. 6 Viborg-Hurley in the first round of the Class B boys basketball state tournament.
The Bulldogs outscored the Cougars 34-20 in the second half, shooting 58.3% (14 of 24) from the floor over the final two quarters and holding Viborg-Hurley to 35.7% (5 of 14) over the final 16 minutes.
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Damon Wilkinson and Kadyn Fast each picked up 14 points for De Smet, while Wilkinson pulled down 11 rebounds. Kasen Janssen tallied 12 points for De Smet.
For Viborg-Hurley, Nick Hanson paced the squad with 16 points, 13 of which he scored in the first half, while Brady Schroedermeier and Kobee Sherman each chipped in 10.
De Smet (22-3) advances to the semifinals as it looks to take home its third-straight Class B state title, taking on second-seeded Aberdeen Christian on Friday, while Viborg-Hurley (20-5) squares off with No. 7 Ethan in the first round of the consolation bracket.
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