RAPID CITY – Before the Pierre Governors’ three-game winning streak that led them to the state tournament, they were frustrated in a loss to the Mitchell Kernels. On Thursday, the Kernels frustrated the Governors again, sending them to the state tournament consolation round.
Aiden Myers and Charlie McCardle hit three-pointers to break a fourth-quarter tie and help Mitchell defeat Pierre 60-51 in the first round of the SDHSAA Boys Class AA State Tournament at the Summit Arena at The Monument.
Pierre (14-8) had trailed by 14 points in the first half before coming back to take a 41-40 lead in the fourth quarter, a quarter where Lincoln Kienholz scored 12 of his game-high 19 points. His bucket with 5:10 left gave Pierre its first lead since the first quarter. After seven straight Mitchell points, Kienholz made a three-point play with a layup and free throw, then Brecken Krueger tied the game at 46-46 with a three-pointer with 2:47 left.
But Myers then hit a three 24 seconds later and McCardle hit another three after a Kienholz miss and Mitchell never trailed again.
Kienholz also had three assists and two steals. Jackson Edman scored 14 points with nine rebounds for the Governors.
Steele Morgan shot seven-of-nine and led with 18 points for Mitchell (18-4), who makes a semifinal game for the first time in 11 years. Myers scored 13 and Markus Talley had 11
Pierre will play in the consolation round on Friday against Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Coverage will begin at 2:15 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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