Sioux Falls Christian gets their revenge against Hamlin in a rematch of the 2024 Class A Boys Basketball State Championships. The Chargers came out on top this time around, 61-51.
Both teams kept it close to begin. The first quarter looked like it would end in a tie at 8-8, but a last second bucket from Jude VanDonkersgoed gave Sioux Falls Christian a three-point edge.
From there - Sioux Falls Christian locked in defensively.
"It all started on defense there," Chargers senior Griffen Goodbary said. "From there, our defense translated really well to our offense, so getting stops is kind of what started it all."
Sioux Falls Christian put their foot on the gas pedal, again, outscoring Hamlin in the second quarter and giving the team a comfortable nine-point lead heading into the second half. The team seemed to be in the driver's seat from there on.
"A lot of the talking came from the guys themselves. I was screaming just to get their attention because they were all into it. They were all coaches from the bench tonight," Sioux Falls Christian head coach Mike Schouten said. "I didn't have to say a whole lot because they were so into it, making great comments, around the floor they were making great observations, and they were sharing that. Timeouts were mainly just refocusing on what their plan was."
Though Hamlin fought to keep it within two possessions until the final minute of the game, it wasn't enough to stop Goodbary, the reigning South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year, from scoring at will. He finished with a game-high 32 points followed by Hamlin's Jackson Wadsworth with 18.
Hamlin’s Zac VanMeeteren added 11 of his own, but it wasn’t enough.
With 26 seconds left, Sioux Fall's Christian's Cole Snyder intercepted a Hamlin pass and turned it into an easy transition bucket, sealing the win.
"It feels great. We had to endure the heartbreak of losing it last year, and it's been on our mind for a year. So, to be able to come back and get a win after having to think about it for a year, it's phenomenal," Schouten said. "I'm just so happy for my players especially, because they took that loss really hard last year. But they went to work in the offseason and worked hard this whole season. It's about them."
Schouten attributed the win to "unselfish play" saying when opportunities weren't there on offense, players distributed the ball until they were.
