Arlington wins Dakota Valley Conference girls basketball title for first time

ARLINGTON — Arlington's girls basketball team made some history Monday night with a 49-47 Dakota Valley Conference victory over Dell Rapids St. Mary.

The Cardinals improved to 14-4 overall and nail down the DVC title with an 8-1 record, the first time Arlington has won since it joined the league in the 2002-03 season, the first South Dakota high school girls basketball season played in the winter. The DVC started as a four-team girls basketball conference in the fall of 1996.

Arlington led by five points with 1:30 left to play. Whitney Warwick's 3-pointer pulled St. Mary to within two, but neither team scored again.

Jaelyn Huntimer tallied 13 points, Addalyn Steffensen 10 points and 11 rebounds, Harley Johnson eight points and Jolyssa Steffensen eight points for Arlington. The Cardinals are coached by Watertown native and former WHS standout Tara (Heiser) King.

Ella Griffin and Madala Hanson each had 17 points for DRSM, which also got 12 rebounds from Sydney Klein.

Other Girls Basketball

Waubay-Summit 63, Wilmot 28: Eva Benike poured in 27 points and Kailee Berger added 11 to spark the Mustangs. Addison Heinje had 15 points and eight rebounds for Wilmot. Stacia Redday contributed five rebounds.

Elkton-Lake Benton 62, Canistota 41: Tevan Erickson's 18 points and five steals, Kylie Ramlo's 17 points and Aubrey Schindle's 11 points led the Elks. Natalie Becker and Bailey Spicer each tallied 11 points for Canistota. Becker also had six steals.

Lac qui Parle Valley 60, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 37 (Minn.): Camryn Lee collected 20 points and eight rebounds and Taylor Shelstad 16 points and five rebounds for LqPV (18-3). Isabel Gerdes contributed nine points, six assists and four steals; Rylee Lund nine points and Ayanna Gipson five assists. Acelynn Hacker notched 14 points, Maddie Luft 12 and Josie Gjerde 10 for KMS.

Minneota 59, Canby 22 (Minn.): Ashlee AnnFrazeur notched six points and five rebounds, Braelyn Merritt five points and Lacie DeVos five rebounds for Canby.

Langford area 35, Leola-Frederick Area 30: The Lions were led by Megan Gustafson with 16 points, Alex Darling eight and Kylie Schock seven. Laura Sumption had 11 and Sofi Losure 10 for LFA.

Scores: Mobridge-Pollock 66, Crow Creek 49; Sunshine Bible Academy 35, Mitchell Christian 34; Webster Area 47, Britton-Hecla 37; McLaughlin 59, Standing Rock (N.D.) 44; Enderlin (N.D.) 66, Tri-State 61; MACCRAY 57, Dawson-Boyd 53, OT (Minn.). No other details were reported.

Boys Basketball

Webster Area 51, Britton-Hecla 22: The Bearcats rolled in Northeast Conference play behind Brent Bearman's 12 points and six rebounds and Jaiden McCreary's 11 points and four assists. Matthew Mount and Gavin Sannes each contributed seven points, Jeron McCreary eight rebounds and Ian Lesnar six rebounds. Dawson Treeby scored 10 points for Britton-Hecla.

Potter County 77, Stanley County 61: Ryder Falkenhagen and Alex Tanner each scored 22 points, Skyler Van Well 12, Landon Larson 11 and Jett Simon nine for PC. Tanner added 14 rebounds, Simon five assists and Falkenhagen 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals. Broch Zeeb (26 points and 10 rebounds), Paxton Deal (18 points) and Kaden Montana (15 points, seven rebounds and four steals) for SC.

Dell Rapids St. Mary 76, Arlington 32: DRSM took the Dakota Valley Conference game with 23 points from Nic Gaspar, 17 from Maverick LeBrun and eight each from CJ Smith and Trevon Beckmon. Blake Madsen recorded 13 points and seven rebounds and Tommy Bacon six points for Arlington.

Mobridge-Pollock 64, Crow Creek 60: Shane Henderson and Jackson Eisemann each scored 16 points for Mobridge-Pollock. Jayden Sazue tallied 12 and Cory Big Eagle Jr. nine for Crow Creek.

Hills-Beaver Creek, Minn. 63, Elkton-Lake Benton 55: HBC used 13 points from Brock Harnach and 10 each from Sawyer Bosch and Micah Bush to collect the win. Tanner Drietz led ELB with 16 points. Carson Griffith and Ryan Krog each followed with 12 and Tanner Stein 10.

Sisseton 72, Flandreau Indian School 71 (OT): Colter Hanson produced 14 points, Ethan DeSpiegler and Dean Schultz 11 each and Dana Bravebull eight for Sisseton. Malik Longie's 36 points and L'Trell Brother of All's 22 paced FIS.

Scores: Mitchell Christian 54, Sunshine Bible Academy 26; Herreid-Selby Area 71, Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter (N.D.) 58; Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 88, Ortonville (Minn.) 36; Dawson-Boyd 69, MACCRAY 44 (Minn.).

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Cardinals finish league play 8-1 with 49-47 on Monday.