SIOUX FALLS –– The third-seeded Rapid City Comets jumped out early and never looked back in a 76-53 victory over the Clark/Willow Lake Cyclones Thursday in opening round action at the South Dakota Class A State Boys’ Basketball Tournament at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.

Julius Frog opened the game for the Comets with a baseline jumper for the first points of the game. Simon Kieffer was fouled and hit two free throws for the Comets before Emerson Larson drove through the defense for a bucket to make it 4-2 RCC.

Aiden Roberts nailed a wing three and Benson Kieffer got a steal and a layup to quickly make it 9-2 for the Comets.

Bo Begeman got a putback for the Cyclones to cut the lead to 9-4 at the first media timeout. Benson Kieffer hit a fadeaway jumper but Chris Bevers answered for CWL with a three ball. Roberts was able to secure a loose ball for the Comets and get a bucket to make it 13-7 as the clock ticked under four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Simon Kieffer hit a stop-and-pop jumper and then Roberts hit an acrobatic lay-in to push the Comet lead to double-digits at 17-7.

Sullivan Felberg sank a pair of free throws for CWL and Simon Kieffer responded with one of two charity shots to close the first frame with the score 21-13.

Benson Kieffer hit a pair of free throws. Simon Kieffer used every part of the rim for a basket to make it 25-13.

The teams exchanged short runs but the Comets held a 40-27 edge at half.
Bevers was at the backend of a transition bucket to open the third quarter. Felberg hit a turn around basket to bring the Cyclones within 40-31, the last time CWL would be within ten.

As the quarter wound down, Simon Kieffer got a pair of free throws, Begeman got a bucket underneath and then Simon Kieffer hit a long three at the buzzer to make it 57-42 going into the fourth.

The teams emptied their benches with 90 seconds left in the game and the Comets secured a 76-53 victory.

Simon Kieffer led four Comets (21-2) in double figures with 20 points. Frog and Benson Kieffer each had 14 points and Roberts had 10.

Frog hauled in eight rebounds to lead RCC.

The Cyclones fall to 18-5. Felberg had 16 points and nine rebounds. Bevers added 15 points and Larson had 11.

Clark/Willow Lake will face Hill City in the second consolation game of the day today.

CWL 13 27 42 53
RCC 21 40 57 76

Clark/Willow Lake (18-5): Emmerson Larson 5 1-4 11, Chris Bevers 6 2-2 15, Bo Begeman 3 1-2 7, Sullivan Felberg 6 2-3 16, Ky Vandersnick 0 1-2 1, Jakob Steen 1 0-0 3. Totals: 21 7-13 53.

Rapid City Christian (21-2): Simon Kieffer 6 6-6 20, Aiden Roberts 4 0-0 10, Benson Kieffer 4 6-7 14, Wes Schlabach 1 0-0 2, Julius Frog 7 0-0 14, Joaquin Petrik 1 0-0 3, Sully Kieffer 2 5-6 9, Jadon Moreno 1 0-0 2, Peyton Glenn 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 17-19 76.

FG: CWL - 21/52 40%; RCC - 27/48 56%. 3-pt FG: CWL - 4/15 (Felberg 2, Bevers, Steen); RCC - 5/16 (SiKieffer 2, Roberts 2, Petrik). Rebounds: CWL 30 (Felberg 9), RCC 24 (Frog 8). Assists: CWL 8 (Three with 2), RCC 12 (SiKieffer 4). Blocks: CWL 3 (Begeman 2), RCC 1. Steals: CWL 5 (Ries 2), RCC 10 (Schlabach 3). Turnovers: CWL 14, RCC 8. Fouls: CWL 17, RCC 17.