ABERDEEN – No overtime was needed this time for Lower Brule.
Brian LaRoche, Jr. and Lane Gray each scored 15 points Friday as the Sioux defeated White River 57-49 in the semifinal of the SDHSAA Boys Class B State Tournament at Northern State University’s Barnett Center.
This was a rematch of a 2022 state semifinal, where Lower Brule defeated White River 86-83 in three overtimes.
Friday’s game was led by Lower Brule 41-39 after three quarters. Gray hit a three and LaRoche a jumper to start the fourth quarter for the Sioux (22-3) and a 46-39. After White River’s Joe Sayler hit a shot with 6:40 left, Lower Brule then scored the next 11 points and held White River (20-5) scoreless over the next 5:26 to clinch the win.
Tayshawn Battese scored 11 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for Lower Brule, who held White River to 35% shooting in the second half.
Joe Sayler had 22 points and eight rebounds for White River.
White River will play for third place against Aberdeen Christian on Saturday, then Lower Brule will try again for its first state championship, playing De Smet in the title game for the second straight year. Coverage of both games will begin at 5:40 PM on Saturday on 94.5/100.5 KPLO and at the KPLO page at the DRG News app & drgnews.com.
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