MURDO — Dylan Marshall took one last Jones County Invitational team championship photo on Saturday. 

Marshall, the son of White River coach Eldon Marshall, helped the Tigers capture their 16th Jones County Invitational title in the past 17 seasons, pulling away from Lyman for a 58-36 win. It is White River's fifth straight JCI title and 24th overall in the 54 years of the event, which annually squeezes eight West River communities into tiny Harold Thune Auditorium each year.

As a spectator, manager and now a player, Marshall has been along for the JCI ride with the Tigers. 

“We’ve been here since I was a little guy running around with Wyatt (Krogman) and Nic (Waln) and all those guys,” Dylan Marshall said. “Knowing I could finish it out my senior year means a lot.”

White River's Joe Sayler attacks the basket during Saturday's Jones County Invitational. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Tournament MVP Joe Sayler scored 25 points, while Marshall and Nicolas Marshall added 10 points apiece. Lyman’s Isaac Thomas had 13 points, while Colton Collins added 12 points and Sam McClanahan had eight points. 

Playing in their 18th consecutive JCI title game, the Tigers used a 28-12 game-ending run to continue their run of Jones County Invitational championships. 

“Our defense did what it needed to and we settled in defensively,” Eldon Marshall said. “Offensively, we got some layups and got our running game going and we were able to pull ahead.”

The Tigers were clinging to a 30-24 lead early in the third quarter, but seized control with a 10-2 close to the quarter.

“We really picked up our defense,” Dylan Marshall said. “Kendrell (Cuevas) came in and helped out. T.J. (Beardt) came in and played big for us, too.”

White River's Dylan Marshall attacks the basket against Lyman's Jacob Sazue during Saturday's Jones County Invitational. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Their run continued in the final quarter. Sayler’s four-point play with 6 1/2 minutes left stretched White River’s advantage to 44-28. The Tigers’ lead ballooned to 48-28 with under six minutes left in the game en route to another title. 

“We weren’t scoring right away and we kept working, getting stops and eventually our offense started to come,” Sayler said. 

Sayler scored 12 of his game-high 25 points in the first half. Nicolas Marshall sparked White River’s offense with three 3-pointers to help the Tigers pull ahead 28-22 at halftime. 

“When they key on Joe like that, someone else has to make a shot,” Eldon Marshall said. “Gavin (Folkers) hit one and whenever someone else can hit a shot and score like that, it’s huge. It’s big for Nick. We’ve been waiting for him to do that and it was great for him to do it in this game.”

Lyman (5-2) will play Bridgewater-Emery at the Hanson Classic on Jan. 22. White River (7-1) will face Class B No. 1 De Smet at the Hanson Classic. 

“We are looking forward to it,” Sayler said. “We know it’s just one step toward where we want to be and we will be ready to go Saturday night and give it our best.”

Notes: Senator John Thune, a Murdo native, was in attendance for Saturday’s championship session. 

Jones County Invitational All-Tournament Team

First Team: Joe Sayler, White River (MVP); Dylan Marshall, White River; Stockton McClanahan, Lyman; Colton Collins, Lyman, Lathan Prince, Stanley County.

Second Team: Dawson Reckling, Kadoka Area; Sam Hand, Philip; Joseph Laprath, Colome; Sam McClanahan, Lyman; Nicolas Marshall, White River.

Pete Kerns Sportsmanship Award: Colton Collins, Lyman.

Philip's Layton Terkildsen and Stanley County's Lathan Prince go after a loose ball during Saturday's Jones County Invitational. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Stanley County 46, Philip 37

MURDO — Stanley County topped Philip for third place at the Jones County Invitational on Saturday. 

Stanley County’s Lathan Prince scored 16 points, while Gavin Irving, Daysen Titze and Stran Scott scored eight points apiece. 

Philip’s Samuel Hand scored 10 points and Jesse Fillingim had nine points. Layton Terkildsen and Bryce Westby scored five points apiece. 

Kadoka Area 41, Colome 34

MURDO — Kadoka Area held off Colome for a boys basketball win at Saturday’s Jones County Invitational. 

Kadoka Area’s Gus Strout finished with 15 points and Dawson Reckling scored 14 points. Kash Block added 10 points. 

Colome’s William Looking Cloud finished with 10 points, while Eli Vobr and Joseph Laprath scored five points apiece.