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ELKTON, S.D. — The Elkton School District played host to the Dakota Valley Conference Classic on Saturday, Jan. 25.
In the one-day event, schools from the DVC were matched up with a non-league foe. Games were played using both gymnasiums. And the Elks faced two Minnesota-based schools.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Tanner Drietz dunks during the second half of a Dakota Valley Conference Classic boys basketball game versus Canby on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Edgerton Public girls basketball player Reese Vande Griend tallied the game-winning shot as the Flying Dutch downed Elkton-Lake Benton 48-46 — a contest with several tie scores and lead changes until the bitter end.
Meanwhile, winless Canby gave the ELB boys all it could handle early before the Elks eventually established a double-digit lead at halftime en route to an 80-55 conquest.
For ELB head boys basketball coach and athletic director Steve Erickson, it was a long but exhilarating day of hoops.
Edgerton Public’s Kya Voge (22) and Elkton-Lake Benton’s Sydney DeVries vie for the ball during a Dakota Valley Conference Classic game on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
“It has been fun being able to host this event,” Erickson said. “We feel that year in, and year out, the Dakota Valley Conference has some of the best teams in South Dakota. We enjoy the chance to get great matchups and games for our kids to compete.”
Castlewood and Dell Rapids-St. Mary’s are top-ranked small schools. The ELB boys now sport an overall record of 9-2.
Teams also were able to face someone new.
For example, Dupree traveled five hours one way from west central South Dakota to play Estelline-Hendricks, who improved to 10-2 with a double-digit victory of its own.
Here’s a little recap on both Elks’ games.
Girls
Edgerton Public 48,
Elkton-Lake Benton 46
Jocelyn Prosch made one of two free throws with 3:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Elks a 45-40 lead.
That’s when Edgerton mounted its comeback, taking a 46-45 lead after Elliott Fleischman and Kya Voge connected on back-to-back 3-pointers on consecutive possessions.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Miakken Vincent talks to her team during a timeout at the Dakota Valley Conference Classic. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Sydney DeVries knotted the game at 46-all with one free throw at the 1:00 mark of the fourth. The Elks had chances to win, but they missed shots and they were called for an offensive foul for an illegal screen.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Charlie Thooft attempts a shot under heavy duress from Edgerton Public defenders. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Meanwhile, Vande Griend came through with that game-winner.
Edgerton’s Reese Vande Griend (2) attempts a shot along the baseline. The Flying Dutch topped the Elks, 46-44. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
DeVries’ layup, which could have potentially tied the score and sent it into extra time in the closing seconds grazed off the front iron. Still, ELB head coach Miakken Vincent was proud of the Elks’ effort.
“Sydney really stepped up as a defensive leader and scorer in this game, which is something we have been needing,” Vincent said.
The coach said playing a team as cohesive as Edgerton (10-9) will help in the long run.
“They are a tough opponent and have battled through close games this season,” added Vincent, who also showed satisfaction in the Elks being right there with a chance to win.
Vande Griend paced Edgerton with 13 points, including three free throws. Kami Smit contributed 12 points, all inside, and Voge added 10 with three 3-pointers.
De Vries netted a game-high 20 points, with two 3’s and 2-of-3 from the foul line, plus three steals. Charlie Thooft added 16, including 4-of-9 at the stripe. Maya Jensen pulled down five rebounds, and Gella Jones distributed four assists.
The Elks dropped to 3-9.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Gella Jones (2) shoots a possible 3-pointer while Edgerton Public’s Kya Voge defends. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Boys
Elkton-Lake Benton 80,
Canby 55
Tanner Drietz made a third-chance basket with 10.8 seconds remaining in the first half, giving the Elks a 10-point cushion at intermission (41-31).
Then the school triple jump record-holder Drietz put a pretty bow on the win with a thunderous dunk — after he stole an errant Lancer pass — during the second half. He finished with 27 points, including 11 field goals, plus eight rebounds to lead all scorers.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Joseph Nibbe (white jersey) attempts a shot while Canby’s Will Abrahamson jumps to defend during a Dakota Valley Conference Classic game Jan. 25. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Colt Beck supplied 16 points, which included several 3-pointers in the opening half. Eliot Erickson added 11 points and Joseph Nibbe 10. A Nibbe layup provided the Elks their largest lead at 28 points (76-48, 3:01 in the fourth quarter).
Ethan Wiskur of Elkton-Lake Benton looks for an open teammate while on offense during this Saturday, Jan. 25 game. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Jace Rangaard scored a game-high 14 for Canby (0-15), and Cayden Anderson 12.
The Elks played at Deuel on Tuesday before a game at Oldham-Ramona-Rutland Thursday and Saturday’s matinee versus Great Plains Lutheran (Watertown, S.D.). The varsity girls’ game is set for 3:30 p.m., and boys tip off at about 5 p.m.
GIRLS
Saturday, Jan. 25
At Elkton, S.D.
Edgerton 48, Elkton-Lake Benton 46
Edgerton Public’s Elliott Fleischman and others gather at midcourt before a game between the Flying Dutch and Elkton-Lake Benton at the Dakota Valley Conference Classic on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Edgerton scoring
Reese Vande Griend, 13; Kami Smit, 12; Elliott Fleischman, 5; Ailynn Johnson, 4; Kya Voge, 10; Joey Fleischman, 4; Personal fouls: Flying Dutch, 16
Elkton-Lake Benton scoring
Sydney DeVries, 20; Charlie Thooft, 16; Jocelyn Prosch, 1; Payton Kuehl, 5; Maya Jensen, 4; Personal fouls: Elks, 9
BOYS
Elkton-Lake Benton 80, Canby 55
Canby scoring
Will Abrahamson, 5; Casey Hoiland, 8; Jack Abrahamson, 7; Jace Rangaard, 14; Owen Peterson, 9; Cayden Anderson, 13; Personal fouls: Lancers, 13
Elkton-Lake Benton scoring
Eliot Erickson, 11; Lane Schindler, 2; Riley Nordmeyer, 6; Tanner Stein, 4; Ethan Wiskur, 2; Colt Beck, 16; Joseph Nibbe, 10; Tanner Drietz, 27; Ashton Neill, 2; Personal fouls: Elks, 17