MITCHELL –– The second-seeded Parkston Trojans encountered a senior-laden De Smet Bulldogs team that challenged until the final buzzer in SoDak 16 action Thursday, with the Trojans coming away with a narrow 40-36 victory.
The two teams struggled against defensive pressure from the opponent throughout the first half. The Bulldogs used their size and length to pack in the lane and get into passing lanes while the Trojans used full-court pressure to lead to a number of turnovers from De Smet.
De Smet’s Hazel Luethmers puts up a shot during Thursday’s SoDak 16 game against Parkston in Mitchell.
De Smet trailed 18-16 at half but fought back to take the lead midway through the third quarter. The teams exchanged blows throughout the rest of the game, but a three-point basket and a putback bucket for Parkston in back-to-back possessions while forcing a De Smet turnover gave the Trojans a four-point edge early in the fourth quarter that the Bulldogs could not overcome the rest of the way.
While the Bulldog defense held the Trojans without a field goal over the final 4:37, Parkston was perfect six-for-six from the line in the final 90 seconds of the game to clinch the win.
Brooke Jennings of De Smet dribbles against pressure by Alexis Holzbauer of Parkston during their Class B SoDak 16 game Thursday at the Mitchell High School gym.
Parkston moves to 20-3 behind 15 points from Keeara Oakley and 10 points from Morgan Maxwell.
Kahris Tapio came off the bench to lead the Trojans with 9 rebounds.
The Bulldogs finish the season with an 11-12 record. Hazel Luethmers was double- and triple-teamed throughout the night but was able to lead De Smet with 13 points.
Audi Currier added nine points.
Brooke Jennings hauled in 10 rebounds and nabbed three steals.
Harper Anderson of De Smet puts up a shot during a SoDak 16 game Thursday against Parkston at the Mitchell High School gym.
The Trojans return to next week’s Class “B” tournament, to be held in Brookings, after finishing as the consolation champions in 2025. It will be the 12th appearance in the state tournament for Parkston.
De Smet 4 16 23 36
Parkston 8 18 27 40
De Smet (11-12): Brooke Jennings 1 0-2 2, Harper Anderson 0 1-2 1, Megan Dylla 1 1-3 3, Adaly Gross 2 0-0 6, Ivey Schoenfelder 1 0-0 2, Audi Currier 4 1-1 9, Hazel Luethmers 5 2-6 13. Totals: 14 5-14 36.
Parkston (20-3): Alexis Holzbauer 1 2-6 5, Lexi Schoenfelder 1 0-0 2, Berkley Ziebart 2 3-3 7, Keeara Oakley 3 8-10 15, Morgan Maxwell 4 2-2 10, Kahris Tapio 0 1-2 1. Totals: 11 16-23 40.
FG: DS – 14/52, 27%; P – 11/57 19%. 3-pt FG: DS – 3/16 (Gross 2, Luethmers); P – 2/22 (Oakley, Holzbauer). Rebounds: DS 45 (Jennings 10), P 45 (KTapio 9). Steals: DS 11 (Jennings 3), P 18 (Ziebart 3). Turnovers: DS 24, P 14. Fouls: DS 20, P 17 (Schoenfelder out).
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