Sioux Falls Jefferson plays stellar defense in Class AA seventh-place game victory

Yankton's Colton Potts attempts a layup against Sioux Falls Jefferson's Mason Riley during the second half of the Class AA boys basketball seventh-place game on Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022 in Sioux Falls.

By Dylan Jespersen

March 19, 2022 01:39 PM

SIOUX FALLS – The Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers’ defense dominated the Yankton Bucks on Saturday, holding them to only 32 points in a 54-32 victory in the seventh-place game of the Class AA boys basketball state tournament at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Jefferson’s defense made everything hard for Yankton (13-11), holding the Bucks to 25.4% shooting from the field (14-for-55) and just 9% from 3-point range (2-for-22). The Cavs turned eight Yankton turnovers into nine points off turnovers, using their defense to create offense all game.

Taylen Ashley led Jefferson (14-10) with 15 points and three assists, both team highs. Kaden Year had 12 points and Griffin Wilde had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Yankton’s Rugby Ryken had 10 points to lead the Bucks in their final game of the season.

Sioux Falls Jefferson wins seventh place in its inaugural season as a program, while Yankton finishes in eighth place after winning the third-place game last season.

Related Topics: 2022 SDHSAA STATE BASKETBALL BOYS BASKETBALL

By Dylan Jespersen

Dylan is sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. A native of Michigan, he graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelors of science in journalism before joining the sports staff in March 2022. He covers 35 high schools along with NAIA's Dakota Wesleyan, which are all within Mitchell Republic's 17 county coverage area. Before joining the Mitchell Republic, Dylan covered sports in Michigan for a year, coached baseball for the Lakeland High School freshman team in White Lake, Mich. and played baseball and basketball in high school.