Local Sports 1-8-24

Mount Marty Men’s Basketball upset #13 ranked Northwestern over the weekend 73 to 70, thanks to a half-court buzzer beater from Cole Bowen.

Before his buzzer-beater, Bowen would hit the game-tying layup to set up his heroics, ending the night with a team-high 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Bowen’s game-winner would end up as the #3 play on that night’s SportsCenter top-10.

Next up for the Lancers is a home game against Hastings on Wednesday night, as part of a men’s and women’s GPAC double-header..

Mount Marty Women’s Basketball fell to Northwestern on Saturday afternoon, as the Red Raiders took an 82 to 47 victory.

Sidney Thue (Thoo-e) was the leading scorer on the night with 17 for MMU. She was followed by Kaity Hove (Ho-vee) with 12, and Kaela Martinez with 10.

Next up for the Lancers is a home game against Hastings on Wednesday night. Tip-off from Yankton is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

On Friday, Yankton Bucks Basketball fell to Mitchell 49 to 45 in overtime, a rematch of the 2023 Class AA State Championship game.

Mitchell’s Markus Talley would have a game-high 16 points. Yankton’s leading scorer was Matthew Sheldon with 12, followed by Landon Potts with 9.

The Bucks will be home for their next game, as they host Watertown on Friday, January 12th.

The Mitchell Kernels defeated Yankton Gazelles Basketball last Friday night, 51 to 41. Mitchell remains undefeated with the win, while Yankton is now 2 and 5. 

Claire Tereshinski led the Gazelles with 13 points, all coming in the 1st half as she left the game with an injury before the break. Macy Drotzmann finished 2nd in scoring with 12 for Yankton.

The Gazelles will be on the road on Friday, January 12th, as they take on the Watertown Arrows in Watertown.

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits captured their second straight FCS National Championship yesterday afternoon, as they defeated Montana 23 to 3.

SDSU’s defense kept the Grizzlies out of the endzone and forced three turnovers in the victory. Offensively, Quarterback, and Walter Payton FCS Offensive Player of the Year, Mark Gronowski added over 200 total yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Jackrabbits finish their championship campaign with a perfect 15 and 0 record, under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers.

Yankton Bucks Kicker Josue Trujillo-Melgoza (Ho-sway Tru-he-o) has been selected as the “Adam Vinatieri Kicker of the Year” by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.

Trujillo was selected as All-State for Class 11AA and all-Eastern South Dakota Conference in 2023. He connected on 90% of his field goal attempts, with a long of 40 yards on the year.

Also recognized by the SDFCA was former Yankton assistant and current Rapid City Central head coach Brandon Colpitts. He was chosen as the “Kalen DeBoer Unsung Coach of the Year” following his first season in charge of the Cobblers program.

Yankton Bucks Wrestling finished 6th as a team in the Dan Pansch Invitational over the weekend, scoring 80 points as a team.

Damian Janish was the highest finisher for the Bucks, taking home 2nd place at 106. Dylan Sloan and Shayce Platt would each finish 4th in their weight classes, while Devon Coke took 5th at 120.

The Bucks return to the mat Thursday night, as they host Aberdeen Central and Brandon Valley for a triangular.

Yankton Gazelles Wrestling took 7th in the Dan Pansch Invitational on Saturday, scoring 41 points during the invite.

Jaclyn Kyte led Yankton with a 2nd-place finish at 138. Winry Yaggie took 3rd at 145, while Monica Massey ended the invite in 4th at 114.

The Gazelles will be back in action on Thursday as they host a triangular against Aberdeen Central and Brandon Valley.

South Dakota Men’s Basketball ended the Big Sky-Summit challenge 0 and 2, as they were defeated by Montana on Saturday, 82 to 63.

Lahat Thioune (La-hot Toon) posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in the loss, leading the team in both categories. Steven Kramer was the only other Coyote in double figures with 11.

USD returns to conference play on Thursday, as they travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a matchup with Oral Roberts.

South Dakota Women’s Basketball went 1 and 1 in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, ending with a 73 to 47 win over Idaho State on Saturday.

Grace Larkins led USD with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, leading the team in both categories. Larkins also dished a team-high 6 assists in the win.

USD will reopen Summit League play on Thursday, as they host Oral Roberts in Vermillion.

South Dakota State Men’s Basketball are now 8 and 8 on the year, following their 89 to 61 win over Montana State on Saturday.

William Kyle III led SDSU in scoring with 21 points on the night, followed by Zeke Mayo with 19. The Jacks had nearly 5 different players crack double digits, as Luke Appel posted 11 points, while Matt Mims and Matthew Mors had 9 apiece.

SDSU will be on the road for their next game on Thursday, as they take on St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

South Dakota State Women’s Basketball picked up their 3rd straight win on Saturday, defeating Montana State 61 to 53.

The Jacks had three players score 10+ points in the win, led by 14 from Madison Mathiowetz (Math-o-wits). Paige Meyer added 12, while Brooklyn Meyer had 10.

SDSU are at home for their next game on Thursday, as they host St. Thomas inside Frost Arena in Brookings.

Area High School Basketball Results (From Last Weekend):

In Boys Basketball:

  • Bloomfield fell to Elgin Public-Pope John 51 to 45.

In Girls Basketball:

  • Bloomfield lost to Elgin Public-Pope John 69 to 35.