ABERDEEN — Lower Brule beat a familiar face to get back to a familiar place. 

Lower Brule and White River locked horns for the second straight season in the Class B semifinals at a rocking Wachs Arena. And just like last season, the Sioux came out on top and will play for De Smet for the Class B state championship on Saturday. 

“We have unfinished business,” Lower Brule guard Brian LaRoche Jr., said after Lower Brule’s 57-49 victory. “So it feels great to get back and to beat them again.”

LaRoche and Lane Gray finished with 15 points apiece, while post player Tayshawn Battese logged 11 points and 12 boards. But Lower Brule (22-3) won with its defense. 

White River (20-5) all-state guard Joe Sayler tossed in 28 points and collected eight rebounds. But no other Tiger cracked double figures and Lower Brule forced 17 turnovers with its patented pressure defense   

“They’re just so quick and pesky and from the get go we were turning it over unnecessarily,” White River coach Eldon Marshall said. “We just had too many turnovers.” 

Lower Brule defeated White River in triple overtime in last season’s semifinals, 86-83. The Sioux defeated White River at the DWU Classic this season, 62-54. 

Friday’s rematch felt similar to the regular season meeting as Lower Brule locked in defensively in the second half. 

“It was pretty big,” said LaRoche Jr., who had three steals. “We got the stops we needed and we capitalized on it and to stop someone like Joe is big.” 

Lower Brule's Tayshawn Battese (42) shoots as White River's TJ Beardt (22) defends during a game in the semifinals on the second day of the Class B State tournament on Friday at the Barnett Center. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

The Sioux built a 20-11 lead in the second quarter, but the Tigers surged back for a 26-22 halftime lead. The third quarter featured three ties and six lead changes, with Lower Brule taking a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter. 

“They are a good team,” Lower Brule coach Brian LaRoche Sr., said. “I told the boys they are going to get their run. They did and we have to go on another run and we did at the right time.”

The Sioux never trailed in the fourth quarter and held White River without a field goal for more than five minutes. 

“It was huge,” Battese said about Lower Brule’s defense. “After that first half we kind of saw what we needed to do and we fixed it in the second and we locked them up.” 

Lower Brule led by 16 points late in the fourth quarter, much to the delight of its strong following of fans. 

“That’s the loudest I heard that gym in a while,” LaRoche Jr., said. “It was louder than last year. So I really like the atmosphere this year.” 

They’ll be back in the same atmosphere on Saturday for the state championship. Lower Brule lost to De Smet, 49-26, in last season’s state championship. 

“We got that taste,” LaRoche Sr., said. “Now let’s go get it.”