SIOUX FALLS – Nothing came easily for the Pierre Governor girls Thursday, but their solid defense led them to a state semifinal for the first time in 14 years.
Pierre got by Rapid City Stevens Thursday 42-34 in the first round of the SDHSAA Girls Class AA Basketball Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon.
The Governors (19-3) struggled with their shooting, hitting only 29 percent of their field goals, but they forced Stevens (14-8) into 26 turnovers.
Remington Price scored 15 points for Pierre and hit her 199th career three-pointer. Lennix DuPris had eight points, including a crucial three-pointer in the fourth quarter. Ayvrie Kaiser scored seven points with six rebounds.
Isabell Higgins led Stevens with 13 points and 16 rebounds. The Raiders’ leading scorer, Taaliyah Porter, was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting with seven rebounds.
Pierre, who led continuously after scoring first, had as much as a 10-point lead before Stevens cut the margin to five with 5:03 remaining. 26 seconds later, DuPris hit a straight away three-pointer, then scored in the paint with 2:37 left and Pierre led 36-26.
Stevens cut the lead to four with 22 seconds remaining, but Price and Ryann Barry combined to make 6-of-6 free throws to seal the win.
Pierre, who last was in a state semifinal in 2009, will meet Harrisburg on Friday at the Sanford Pentagon. Coverage will begin at 7:15 PM on The Official Voice of the Pierre Governors, River 92.7, and at the River 92.7 page at the DRG News app & drgnews.com.
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