ABERDEEN, SD -- Alex Waldner's 24 points led James Valley Christian to its first state championship with a 67-54 win over Platte-Geddes at the South Dakota Class B boys basketball tournament on Saturday.

James Valley Christian took the excitement out of it early, outscoring the Black Panthers 19-7 in the first quarter. The Vikings (25-1) extended that lead throughout the first half mostly through its seven 3-pointers.

Platte-Geddes (19-7), whose last title was in Class A in 2008, made just three of its first 13 shots from the field.

Waldner had six 3-pointers and nine rebounds. Nathan Wedel had 20 points and eight boards.

Coby Johnson had 28 points and 14 rebounds for the Panthers.

 

THIRD PLACE
POTTER COUNTY 65, ETHAN 54
ABERDEEN, SD -- Potter County took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter and pulled away to beat Ethan 65-54 for third place at the South Dakota Class B boys basketball tournament on Saturday.

The Battlers (23-3) scored 16 of the game's final 20 points to pull away down the stretch.

Blake Bartscher had 19 points and six rebounds for Potter County, and Jace Connor added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Potter County had nine 3-pointers to just two for Ethan (21-5).

The Rustlers got 12 points from Caleb Meinke and 11 each from Tanner Heuer, Kole Hawkinson, Tanner Storer and Chayce Hall.

Rease Logan had seven rebounds.

 

FIFTH PLACE
LANGFORD AREA 46, FAITH 37
ABERDEEN, SD --  Bo Fries had 20 points Saturday as Langford Area beat Faith 46-37 in the fifth-place game at the South Dakota Class B boys basketball tournament.

Fries had two 3-pointers and led the Lions (23-3) with three assists. He also had six rebounds, helping Langford to a 29-23 advantage.

Drew Planteen was 5 for 8 from the field and hit 7 of 9 free throws for 17 points. He led Langford with 11 rebounds.

Faith was led by Wyatt Schuelke's 11 points. Tyler Hohenberger had nine rebounds.

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