UPDATE 2/22/24: The Garretson girls' basketball team won their match against Madison, and will play Tri-Valley today (Thursday) at home, with the game beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Last Thursday, the Garretson girls' basketball team ended their regular season after taking on Sioux Valley in Volga. Despite the loss, they headed into postseason on a high note, having taken the season with twelve wins out of twenty games. They played Madison in the first round of the Region 3A tournament on the home court on Tuesday evening (results not available at press time).
Their final home game of the regular season was a double header with Parker on Tuesday, February 13, where the Dragons handily took home the win.
Garretson grabbed the upper hand early in the game, earning the first points on a corner shot from #24 Sydney Olson. The two teams stayed even until Parker got to 8 points, then the Dragons held them there and went on an 8-point run. A missed 3-point shot from Parker with only 8 seconds left on the clock meant Garretson went into the second quarter up, 16-8.
The opponents started the second quarter with a chip on their shoulder, and pulled out three points just moments in. Garretson kept playing ball, however, and racked up a point to every one of Parker's. Though the Dragons had several missed opportunities at the basket, their guarding game was on point, and the Pheasants had trouble sinking nearly all of their shots. They went into the half 26-17.
The Dragons put T-E-A-M into teamwork in the third quarter as they stole the ball from the Pheasants on multiple occasions, passed it to senior Jordyn Williams, and watched as she charged down the court for a layup. Teammates Tayler Benson, Ava Ockenga, and Kylie Christensen were also on fire with 3-pointers, steals, and shots. Though the Pheasants had an easier time catching baskets this quarter, they couldn't catch the Garretson team, and ended the third quarter 49-30.
In the fourth quarter, Parker earned fourteen points while the home team increased by twelve. This left the Dragons taking the win, 61-44.
In all, Garretson had 28 rebounds, 14 assists, 12 steals, and 5 blocks as they out-maneuvered Parker.
On Thursday, the Lady Dragons hit the road to face Sioux Valley in Volga. The team started out strong and on their game, ending the first quarter 15-6, but by the third quarter, the Cossacks edged ahead and weren't about to give it back. They held the Dragons down in the fourth to only a few points, ending the game 58-35.
The Dragons' rebound game was strong, as they got 28 to Sioux Valley's 25. They had 10 assists and 2 steals, but had trouble converting their shots.
The team started post-season play on Tuesday at second seed, taking on #7 Madison in the first round of region play. The winners will next play tonight (Thursday), taking on the winner of the game between Tri-Valley and Dell Rapids. The Thursday winner will head to the SoDak 16 en route to the State Tournament.
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