HURON — Molly Mason’s preseason speech came to fruition on Saturday. 

Viborg-Hurley captured back-to-back Class B state championships, culminating with a 71-61 win over Wall at a raucous Huron Arena. It capped an impressive two-year run as the Cougars became the 10th Class B girls basketball team to repeat. 

In the season opener, Mason told the Cougars they’d be the 10th Class B girls basketball team to accomplish the feat and jotted down the No. 9 on the board prior to playing Freeman.

“I erased it and I put a ‘10’ down,” Mason said. “I said ‘Soon to be 10 this year’ and from there on that was our goal.” 

The Cougars (23-3) accomplished their goal and became the first Class B team to repeat since Sully Buttes in 2016 and ‘17. They also accomplished it in convincing fashion. 

The Cougars went undefeated against Class B teams and two of their losses were against Class A finalists Wagner and Hamlin. The other coming against Campbell County (Wyo.). 

“We had a target on our back all year long,” Mason said. “Here at the tournament everybody wants to take out Viborg-Hurley as well. So a lot more pressure. But we handled it well. We battled all season long with pressure and I told the girls this was no different.”

Viborg-Hurley's Coral Mason (12) celebrates a basket and foul called amongst her teammates in the final minutes of the Class B State Championship game against Wall on Saturday at the Huron Arena. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

Viborg-Hurley’s Coral Mason paced the championship effort with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Denae Mach added 16 points and four rebounds. Charley Nelson tossed in 14 points and three 3-pointers. Estelle Lee had eight points, while Shelby Lyons logged five points and eight rebounds. 

The starting five was instrumental in leading the Cougars to a 45-7 record the past two seasons. 

“Last time it felt like a Cinderella story and it was unexpected,” Coral Mason said. “This one it kind of feels like we are here for a purpose. A lot of pressure, but I think we handled it really well.” 

One year after winning the state championship as the No. 8 seed, the Cougars faced another upset-minded team in the Eagles (20-6). Viborg-Hurley defeated Wall, 74-36, on Dec. 30 at the Parkston Classic. 

But the No. 5 seed Eagles were flying high after outlasting No. 1 seed Wolsey-Wessington (76-72) in a semifinal thriller on Friday. In the championship game, Wall’s Paige Kjerstad posted 21 points and 10 rebounds. Nora Dinger had 13 points, while Alexis Stephan added 11 points and three 3-pointers. 

“Their defense was a lot tougher,” Coral Mason said. “So we had to adjust and I felt like we adjusted well pounding it into the lane and it worked out well.”

Mason made a living in the paint and at the free-throw line. The 5-foot-10 senior guard finished 9 of 22 from the field, all within close range of the basket. She finished 10 of 14 at the free-throw line.  

“My team…I wanted to do everything for them,” Coral Mason said. “I wanted to go out and give 110%. I feel like that’s what I did tonight and I just wanted to do it for my team.”

The title tilt was much closer than the 38-point deficit on Dec. 30. The teams were tied 17-17 after a fast paced first quarter and the Cougars pulled away for a 34-27 halftime lead. 

“It was physical and we were all gassed,” Mach said. “I didn’t shoot the ball as well as I wanted to. They did a great job on defense, but Coral stepped up and had a great game. It was such a fun game.”

Viborg-Hurley's Estelle Lee brings the ball up the court as Wall's Paige Kjerstad (4) defends during the Class B State Championship game on Saturday at the Huron Arena. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

In the third quarter, it appeared as if the Cougars seized control and stretched their advantage to 15 points with 3:42 left. But the Eagles got within striking distance and trailed 51-45 entering the final frame. 

“What a great team they have,” Molly Mason said. “Dinger did such a great job. We had to really pick up our defense and adjust to make sure we covered her. The penetration in the lane killed us, too. They just played a complete game and really made us work for this championship.”

In the fourth quarter, the Cougars stretched their advantage back to 10 points and closed out the game at the free-throw line. Then, the celebration was on for the second straight season. 

“I am at a loss for words right now,” Mach said. “It’s just so much better because we get to end our career on a win.”