SIOUX FALLS – 53 and counting and champions again.
Gatorade Player of the Year Issac Bruns scored 22 points Saturday as Dakota Valley stopped Sioux Falls Christian 54-48 in the SDHSAA Boys Class A championship game at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Randy Rosenquist had 18 points and seven rebounds for Dakota Valley, who finished at 26-0 for the second straight season.
Ethan Bruns scored 20 for Sioux Falls Christian (21-5), who led by two at halftime and was tied at 42-42 after three quarters. The Chargers then managed only one field goal and six points in the fourth quarter.
Dakota Valley’s 53-game winning streak is a Class A record. The Panthers’ last loss was in the state semifinal against Sioux Valley in 2021.
3rd Place
Hamlin 53, Elk-Point Jefferson 40
Hamlin (21-4) earned its best state tournament finish since winning the Class B championship in 1983. Easton Neuendorf led the Chargers with 13 points and Brennan Keszler had 12.
Easton Kempf scored 19 for Elk Point-Jefferson (18-7).
5th Place
Sioux Valley 34, St. Thomas More 33
Oliver Vincent hit the deciding free throw with 2:11 left for the Cossacks (23-3). Hudsyn Ruesink led Sioux Valley with 11 points.
Turner Thompson had 10 points for St. Thomas More (21-4).
7th Place
Hot Springs 60, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 50
Josh Kleinsasser scored 21 for Hot Springs (20-6), whose seventh-place finish is the best for the program in a state tournament since 1945. Matt Close added 15 for the Bison.
Reed Rus scored 21
