By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — Four years ago, Addie Siemsen took an inbounds pass from then-teammate Sawyer Stoebner to win a game against Huron, giving the then-freshman and first-year head coach Dave Brooks their first varsity win together.

Then on Saturday, Siemsen led the Kernels offensively to a 59-53 win over Rapid City Stevens in the consolation championship to end her career with a win, and give coach Brooks a win as he announced about a month ago he would be retiring at the conclusion of this season.

“Sawyer gave it to Addie. She just kind of threw it up, and it went in, and we won,” Brooks said. “I told her today, after the first game, I was kind of hoping maybe there'll be a chance you might make the last shot. So you make the first one to win a game for me, make the last one.”

Siemsen, a 1,000-point career shooter, finished Saturday’s game with 21 points and three assists. 

Siemsen, who will play for the Vikings at Augustana University next year in Sioux Falls, said she was willing to do whatever it took to win, whether it meant her scoring or getting her teammates in a position to score.

“I just really wanted to end on a great win, like Coach Brooks and I, this is our last game together, and last game as a Kernel for both of us,” Siemsen said. “So I just wanted to end with a win. So I was willing to do anything possible for a win.”

While Siemsen is the Kernels' lone senior, the younger classmen stepped up for Mitchell. Mitchell’s Nia Talley, an eighth-grader, scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Kernels, while sophomore London Hajek added 12 points. Another eighth grader, CeCe Morgan, added 11 points and nine rebounds for Mitchell.

Saturday’s win over Rapid City Stevens was a redeeming moment for the Kernels, who fell to the Raiders 49-35 on Dec. 19.

“It was amazing. Like, you could tell when we first played Stevens, like all of our younger girls were a little scared and timid, because they are a good team, they have really good defense and they really get up on you. So just to see them handle that pressure now, just shows how much they've grown,” Siemsen said. “If teams try to stop me, like, Nia stepped up, other people can step up. So I think it's just really difficult for teams if they’re trying to just stop me. To see Nia, especially in the state tournament, step up. She didn't play like an eighth grader these last couple of games. It's amazing to see, and I'm just so proud of her.”

During the Kernels’ game on Friday, Talley led the team in scoring with 17 points as the Kernels defeated Sioux Falls Jefferson 57-51.

“They were guarding Addie pretty hard, and she couldn't really get open. So I just thought that I could. I thought that I could step up and help out, and so we could get the win,” Talley said.

Brooks said seeing how far the girls have come this season, he knew they would step up when they needed to.

“These last couple of years, grades don't seem to matter. I mean, we get seniors that are hanging with sophomores. And then these, these two eighth graders, those girls have come with us since they were in fifth and sixth grade,” Brooks said. “So it's not like it's a they're barging into a party or anything, and they were welcomed.

“At the end of the day, Addie Siemsen wants to win. She doesn't score a point, maybe she'd be disappointed, but she'd be happy with the win. I think that attitude kind of sprinkles down. And it's, ‘Hey, it's, how do we get a win? Who can help do that?’ And that starts at the top, and when your leader does that, then it's kind of easy to fall into that line.”

As Brooks steps aside, the head coach finishes his 4-year stint with four straight state tournament appearances and a 61-35 record. Brooks said he credits the Kernels' success to their time in the offseason, their workouts and the support of parents and assistant coaches. 

“Let players play, coaches coach, and as Tom Young always told me, that players win, coaches lose. So they've had four better years than me,” Brooks said with a smile.

While Brooks is gone, Talley said she’s sad he will no longer be the coach. She said she’s hungry to get back.

“I want to come back here every year,” Talley said. “From now on, we're going to do that.”

For Rapid City Stevens, the Raiders graduate five seniors following an 18-6 campaign that saw the team qualify for their 13th straight state tournament.

The Raiders were led by Mackenzie Schreiber with 16 points. Eighth-grader Marley Seumanutafu was second on the team with 13 points. Seniors Finley Love added four points and four assists, Halle Peterson added six, Jessa Griswold scored three and Hayden Thorton scored two points and grabbed seven rebounds.