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Red Cloud Crusaders capture elusive state tourney berth
Red Cloud's Stevi Fallis celebrates hitting a late 3-pointer against Florence/Henry on Thursday in Fort Pierre.
(Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Red Cloud Crusaders capture elusive state tourney berth

Mar 3, 2022
  

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

FORT PIERRE — The Red Cloud Crusaders are going to the state tournament — finally.

Red Cloud qualified for the Class A state girls basketball tournament in 2020, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its season was canceled last season. 

So when the Crusaders ran out the clock on their 50-44 SoDak 16 girls basketball win over Florence/Henry, it was two years in the making. 

“It’s very rewarding considering the circumstances where we got it taken away from us a couple of years ago,” Red Cloud senior Stevi Fallis said. “It’s just a really good feeling.”

No. 8 Red Cloud (19-2) will play No. 1 Wagner (21-1) in the opener of its elusive state tourney trip. 

“I got a little emotional in the locker room because every day after practice we’ve been saying ‘state,’ ” Red Cloud coach Matt Rama said. “It’s such a rewarding thing for those girls. It’s just a rewarding thing. It’s a testament to their work.”

The Crusaders held off a worthy competitor in Florence/Henry, which was looking for its first-ever trip to state as a co-op. Red Cloud was clinging to a 43-39 lead with 1:22 seconds left and that’s when Fallis’ 3-pointer gave it some breathing room to pull away. 

The shot came after Rama called a timeout and the ball worked its way to Fallis on the left wing, who drilled the critical 3-pointer. 

“I was just thinking I have to step up and my team needs some shots made,” Fallis said. “I knew I had to step up. That’s what I have been working for and I just let it fly and I knew it was going in right as I shot it.” 


The Crusaders sealed the game at the free-throw line. Fallis led Red Cloud with 27 points, including six 3-pointers. Allison Richards added 15 points. 

Florence/Henry (17-5) was led by Caylin Kelly, who tossed in 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Trinity Watson logged 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals. 

Both teams were tight in the early stages. The Falcons led 6-5 after the first quarter, as Red Cloud struggled to convert on shots around the rim.

“I thought we were super tight to start the game,” Rama said. “The timeout was to calm them down. I told them ‘To enjoy it. It’s going to go in and we are going to be OK.’ ” 

The Crusaders — and especially Fallis — started converting in the second quarter. Fallis scored 13 points and hit three 3-pointers in the period, helping Red Cloud take a 23-19 lead into the break. 

Florence/Henry knotted the score at 27-27 with four minutes left in the third quarter, while it only trailed 34-31 entering the final period. Fallis’ 3-pointer gave Red Cloud its biggest lead (41-34) with 3:47 left. 

“She’s a hard worker and she’s wanted this,” Rama added about his senior point guard. 

Up next, the Crusaders will prepare for the state tournament next week.

“We are just going to take some time and enjoy the moment,” Rama said. “On Saturday we will really start focusing on who we got and start watching film and see what we can do at state.”