By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — After years playing the two spot, Rapid City Stevens senior Finley Love is thriving at the point guard position for the Raiders’ girls basketball team.

Love and the Raiders qualified for the team’s 13th straight Class AA state tournament with a decisive 67-42 win over Yankton in the SoDak16 last Friday night at home. 

The Augustana University signee said she felt a bit of pressure to make sure the Raiders made it back to the state tournament, but said she knew they’d make it if they played their game.

“It feels really good, because there was a lot of pressure, especially because we've gone to state, like, 12 years in a row before that,” Love said. “So I just really wanted to make sure that our team got back to state.”

“It never gets old,” head coach Adam Dannenbring said of qualifying for state following the Raiders' win over Yankton.

The win over Yankton to secure a state tournament birth was extra special for Love this year. Love is playing her best basketball this year and doing so in honor of her biggest supporters, her parents, Sonja and Jason Love.

Sonja has been a long-time supporter of the Raiders girls' basketball team. Often having been referred to as the “team mom,” according to Dannenbring.

Dannebring, who’s in his fifth season coaching the Raiders, said Sonja has always done the things off the court to support the Raiders since he took over the helm of the program, which included not only Finley but also her older sister, Gabbie.

“I really enjoyed getting to work with both Gabbie and now with Finley,” Dannenbring said. “And Sonja has been our team mom since I started. She's kind of organized everything, and now she's kind of passed the torch on. But, you know, they've just been so very helpful with all the organization of like team meals and things on the side.”

Sonja and Jason’s support for their daughters is what Finley is playing for during her senior campaign, especially her mom.

Sonja was diagnosed with cancer this past summer, and Finley said that was the reason her mom gave up a lot of the “team mom” duties this year.

“I think, like, it's just been hard because, like, obviously, it's like, my mom has cancer, so it's hard on my family. And there were games, in the middle of the season she couldn’t make because she was supposed to have surgery, or she missed games because she didn't feel very good. 

“So I think I just, like, I really wanted to make this season special for her… I just wanted to make every game worth it, honestly. And my teammates and my friends have been really supportive.”

Finley said her parents have “so many friends” because of the game of basketball and said that makes the game even more special. 

Part of why Finley is playing her best basketball was the move to the point position, she said.

While Gabbie loved to shoot 3-point baskets, according to Dannenbring and Finley. Finley said her favorite part of her game is on the defensive side of the ball.

“I always used to run the point in, like middle school, and then last year I had to be more of a shooting guard. So honestly, I love running point,” Finley said. “I love making good passes, or just, like, finding people and dribbling.

“I love playing defense, especially when I get matched up with the other team's best player, because I know I have a job to do for my team, and it feels really rewarding when they get zero points on the scoreboard, or just doing your job for the team, even though it kind of goes unnoticed sometimes.”

Rapid City Stevens' Finley Love comes up with a loose ball during a Class AA girls SoDak 16 game against Yankton last Friday night at Carold Heier Gymnasium in Rapid City. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

Finley is averaging seven points per game while shooting 41.2% from the field. She is also averaging 3.23 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 2.19 steals per game.

“She's always been a tremendous defender first, but then this year, she's been kind of the straw that stirs the pot,” Dannenbring said. “She pushes the ball in transition. She runs the point guard for us, and she's still playing tremendous defense. So I mean, that's been the biggest change for this year, is we've kind of given her the keys a little bit and let her cook as well.”

Dannenbring credits a lot of Finley’s success to her hard work in the offseason, whether it was in team camps, open gyms or as a part of club basketball.

Finley said signing with Augustana was a reward not only for the amount of time she’s put into the sport, but also for her parents and the time and resources they’ve given to let her play ball.

“I was, like, looking at a few other smaller schools, but like, the second time I went (to Augustana), all the girls introduced themselves to me, and it was just so welcoming,” Finley said. “And being close enough to where my parents can still watch me, I think it's so important, because my dad and my mom will want to make every single game, even if I'm not playing.

“I feel so good about it, especially because my parents spent so much money paying for my AAU travels and fees. So now I feel like I'm kind of rewarding them, because I'm getting my college paid for.”

Heading into the state tournament on Thursday, the Raiders are 17-4 and earned the No. 4 seed, where they will meet No. 5 seed Aberdeen Central (15-6) in a 12:45 p.m. matchup at Summit Arena at The Monument.

The Raiders and Eagles met in the second week of the season in Aberdeen, with the Eagles claiming a 12-point victory.

Finley said the Raiders are a much different team than when they first played, but said it will be a physical game against the Eagles, who feature strong inside post players.

Dannenbring said this year’s group of girls is very unselfish, and he’s excited to play in front of a home crowd with the tournament in Rapid City.

“We're really experienced. And I'm just excited that I get to go on the journey with them here at the state tournament. I'm happy it's here at home, and they get to show off in front of people from Rapid City.”