By Rich Winter

605 Sports

BROOKINGS — Vermillion eighth-grader Taylor Reuvers is going to hit a ton of big shots during her high school career. 

None however might be bigger than the 3-pointer she drained with 30 seconds remaining in Friday’s Class A semifinal against Sisseton. Reuvers missed a shot moments earlier but Tanager coach Jon Brooks had no doubts about going back to the guard.

“That’s the thing, not many people are not going back to an eighth grader,” Brooks told South Dakota Public Broadcasting after the game.  “If anyone knows Taylor Reuvers if she misses one shot the next one is going in.” 

Trailing 39-36 entering the final period, Vermillion had to overcome a five-point deficit and made plenty of big shots to get the job done. A basket from Sisseton’s Emmalee Nielsen put the Redmen up 43-38 with five minutes remaining in the game. The Tanagers still trailed 46-41 with 2:10 remaining. 

Vermillion’s Kasey Hanson hit a big 3-pointer to cut the margin to 46-44. After a pair of missed free throws from Sisseton’s Chloe Lanager, Ruevers stepped up and buried the shot that put Vermillion over the top. Tanager Brooke Jensen hit a pair of free-throws with 19 seconds remaining and Reuvers made one-of-two with under a second remaining for the final margin. 

“We’ve been in a lot of big games and I told the girls at half that we just have to keep doing what we are doing,” Brooks told South Dakota Public Broadcasting. “We played a difficult schedule to be ready for moments like these. I knew if we could rebound we would have a chance and we did ok but we got just enough of them at the end.”

Chandler Cleveland paced Vermillion with 15 points, five rebounds and two steals. Jensen added 12 points and eight rebounds and Reuvers chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists. 

Early on it was the post play of the Lanager sisters that bothered Vermillion. Krista Langager who finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds had four early points while sister Chloe Lanager (16 points and nine rebounds) scored six first quarter points for Sisseton. Reuvers hit an early 3-pointer that gave Vermillion their first lead of the game, 7-6. 

Sisseton led 16-15 after one quarter. 

A back-and-forth second quarter saw Vermillion take their biggest lead of the night, 24-18 on a 3-point make from Jensen and a left handed layin from Kasey Hanson. Chandler Cleveland’s late bucket gave Vermillion a 30-25 advantage before Sisseton’s Emily Nielsen ended the half with a bucket as Sisseton trailed 30-27 at the half. 

Sisseton opened up the third period on an 8-0 run and took a 35-30 lead when Hannah Leverson made her first basket of the game. Chandler Cleveland’s basket broke the scoring drought as the Tanagers started bringing pressure midway through the third period. 

“We had to turn up the defense there.” Brooks told South Dakota Public Broadcasting. “We started bringing pressure and we had a couple kids step up and make big shots.”

With the win Vermillion advanced to the championship game for the first time since 2007 when it beat Bennett County, 56-48. 

“It feels awesome,” Brooks said. “We have great fans and a great following and we are really excited.” 

Vermillion will play the winner of Tea Area and Sioux Falls Christian for the Class A state championship on Saturday.