The Britton-Hecla girls basketball team dropped its final two games of the regular season but still earned the right to host a Region 2B quarterfinal game last night Tuesday against Hitchcock-Tulare.
It was the first time since the playoff format changed from district to regional tournaments in 2014 that the Lady Braves hosted a playoff contest.
Region quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round on Thursday with those winners earning a spot in the SoDak 16 on Thursday, Feb. 29.. The eight SoDak 16 victors will qualify for the Class B state tournament in Rapid City March 7-11. n games last week Groton Area downed B-H 69-31 on Friday and Coach Terry Nelson’s crew lost to Hamlin 54-36 last week Tuesday to finish the regular season with a 7-13 record. Hitchcock-Tulare also brought a 7-13 mark into the regional game. Results from that contest will be published in next week’s Journal.
Groton Area 69 Britton-Hecla 31
Groton Area exploded for 43 first half points to roll past Britton-Hecla.
Sterling Brassfield led the Lady Braves with eight points and Tiyanna Schott added six. Jayden Bender had seven boards and set a new school career rebounding mark in the game with a total of 546, surpassing the record held by Alyssa James of 539.
BRITTON-HECLA: Sterling Brassfield 2 3-6 8, Tiyanna Schott 2 22 6, Jayden Bender 1 2-4 4, Rae Ann Hagenson 0 2-2 2, Karlie Zuehlke 1 00 2, Daynika Zuehlke 1 1-2 3, Cellon Pruitt 1 0-0 2, Faith Snell 1 1-2 3, Maddie Micko 0 1-2 1. Totals 9 12-20 31.
GROTON AREA: Sydney Leicht 5 3-4 16, Jerica Locke 2 0-0 4, Jaedyn Penning 4 2-2 10, Kennedy Hansen 2 0-0 4, Brooklyn Hansen 1 2-2 4, Rylee Dunker 2 0-0 4, Faith Traphagen 5 0-0 12, Laila Roberts 1 1-2 3, Talli Wright 1 0-0 2, Taryn Traphagen 1 0-0 2, Mia Crank 2 0-0 5, Emily Clark 1 0-0 3. Totals 27-59 8-10 69.
BH (7-13) 8 16 22 31 GA (13-7) 21 43 55 69 3-point goals – Brassfield; Leicht 3, F. Traphagen 2, Crank, Clark. Total fouls – BH 12, GA 12.
Hamlin 54 Britton-Hecla 36
Britton-Hecla was within striking range after three periods, trailing by 11, but Hamlin outscored the Lady Braves 158 in the final period to pull away.
Sterling Brassfield led BH with 12 points and five assists, Tiyanna Schott added 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Jayden Bender grabbed 10 missed shots and had four assists.
BRITTON-HECLA: Sterling Brassfield 4 3-6 12, Tiyanna Schott 5 0-1 10, Jayden Bender 1 1-2 3, Addison Wade 1 1-2 3, Heather Storbakken 2 2-2 6, Karlie Zuehlke 0 0-2 0, Chellon Pruitt 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 7-12 36.
HAMLIN: Musonda Kabwe 5 0-0 11, Addie Neuendorf 9 0-0 23, Emma Schultz 1 0-0 3, Marissa Bawdon 4 4-5 13, Addie Jensen 1 0-0 2, Shayne Fritz 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 4-5 54.
BH (7-12) 5 18 28 36 Hamlin (12-7) 12 26 39 54
3-point goals – Brassfield; Kabwe, Neuendorf 5, Schultz, Bawdon. Fouled out – Jensen. Total fouls – BH 12, Hamlin 12.