By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

The Bennett County brand of basketball included forcing Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (22-4) into 14 turnovers off 12 steals. The Warriors also featured a balanced-scoring attack, led by the outstanding O’Neill sisters. 

Freshman Reagan O’Neill finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while eighth-grader Peyson O’Neill had 18 points and five rebounds.

They combined for eight of the team’s 12 steals. 

“Defense is key to winning,” Reagan O’Neill said. “Our defense I think is really good and competitive and it got us to this state title.”

The Warriors left no doubt in the state championship romp. 

Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, which is around 25 miles away from Huron, rode the energy of the pro-Blackhawk crowd in the opening stages. But the Warriors didn’t flinch and recorded six steals in the opening quarter, jumping out to an 18-11 lead in the first eight minutes.  

“We came out and we knew what we had to do,” Evans said. “We knew they had length. So being able to make easier passes and not doing too much. We had to come out and play controlled.”

Bennett County stretched its lead to 38-26 at halftime, and continued to cruise along in the second half. The Warriors’ advantage stayed in double digits and the celebration was on in the final moments. 

“I am still not believing it,” Poor Bear said. “I don't think it’s hit me yet. This is crazy because I knew we were meant for this.”

Evans’ pre-tourney quote about Bennett County not being a Cinderella fueled the Warriors, said Reagan O’Neill.  

“It gave us adrenaline and we wanted to go and get it even more for the people doubting us,” Reagan O’Neill said.  

“That put confidence in us,” Poor Bear added. “Because it didn't make us doubt ourselves. We knew that we were going to come in and dominate this game.” 

Bennett County’s state championship win was its easy win during the three-game tourney. The Warriors outlasted Parkston (51-49) in the opener, edged defending champ Centerville (44-41) in the semifinals and put an exclamation point on the championship with a 10-point win on Saturday. 

With each game, their confidence only grew and reinforced their belief in themselves. 

“We saw a lot of competition but we were training for this in the offseason and during the season,” Peyson O’Neill said.

“We put so much work into the gym and in the offseason,” Reagan O’Neill added. “I just knew it was going to happen. I knew it all along.”

And the Warriors could be a team to be reckoned with in the future. The Warriors start one eighth-grader, two freshmen, one sophomore and one senior. 

“We haven’t reached our potential yet,” Evans said. “I promise you that.” 

For Poor Bear, who transferred back to Bennett County after playing last season at Rapid City Stevens, it was special to deliver the school’s first state championship since 1986. 

“It feels great, especially leaving and coming back and helping create this team and leading it,” Poor Bear said. “We made it.”