By Rich Winter

605 Sports

One year after dropping a heart-breaking semifinal game the Dakota Valley boys found redemption. 

Isaac Bruns led the Panthers with 20 points as Dakota Valley pulled away late for a 59-47 win over Flandreau in the semifinals of the Class A boys basketball tournament on Friday. 

“This is where we wanted to be,” Dakota Valley coach Jason Kleis said. “Last year we got beat in the semis and it left a terrible taste in our mouths and this feels great to be one step closer but we are not satisfied.” 

Early on it looked like the Panthers might run away with the win. Dakota Valley capped off a 20-7 first quarter with five straight points from Bruns, including a first-quarter buzzer beater. 

But Flandreau wouldn’t go quietly and a Flier team that held their last three opponents in the 30’s dug in defensively. Jaxon Wingert’s basket early in the second period gave Dakota Valley a 22-9 lead. Over the last five minutes of that quarter the Panthers scored just three points.

Flandreau senior Tash Lunday scored on an inside basket then hit a 3-pointer. Liam Streitz added a late basket as Dakota Valley led 25-18 at intermission. 

Early in the third quarter Lunday followed his own 3-point miss, grabbed the carom and put it in as he became the 43rd boy in South Dakota prep history to eclipse 2,000 career points. Flandreau’s Alex Anderson hit back-to-back triples and Chase LeBrun’s first basket of the game knotted the score at 30-30 midway through the period. 

Dakota Valley’s Sam Faldmo knocked down a 3-pointer to switch the momentum as the Panthers led 38-32 heading into the final stanza. 

Twice Flandreau cut the lead to four in the fourth quarter but every time the Fliers got close Faldmo closed the door with big-time makes. Faldmo’s second triple of the night put Dakota Valley up seven. Moments later another triple stretched that lead to 47-39. 

 “Sam Faldmo hit a couple of big threes for us to really loosen things up,” Kleis said. “They were sagging off a lot of guys and then Randy (Rosenquist) and Bruns kinda took over for us.” 

Flandreau would get as close as 49-42 on a Lunday basket before a patient Dakota Valley team controlled things to the final buzzer. 

Faldmo, who averages four points per game finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Jaxon Wingert added ten points while Rosenquist finished with six points and five assists.

Dakota Valley advances to Saturday’s Class A championship where they take on Sioux Valley

“Give Flandreau a ton of credit,” Kleis said. “They were physical and tough and have some studs. Our guys rose up when they needed to.” 

Lunday equaled his opening round point total with 23 points. He finished the night with 2,010 career points passing Winner’s Zach Horstman for 42nd on the all-time scoring list. Anderson added 14 points for the Fliers. 

Flandreau plays St. Thomas More at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.