Langford Area 40
Colman-Egan 39

HURON — For the sixth time in seven years, the Langford Area Lions are headed back to the Class “B” State boys’ basketball tournament.
The seventh-seeded Lions, last year’s consolation champion at the “B,” earned their return trip with a close, come-from-behind 40-39 win over the upset minded Colman-Egan Hawks Wednesday night at Huron Arena. The Hawks came in seeded 10th.
Ryan Punt led the Lions with 13 points on the night, as Langford Area forged a six-point lead near the end of the first half, only to see the Hawks come back to take a 26-22 lead into the break. C-E built that to a five-point lead after three quarters, only to see Langford Area post 11 fourth-quarter points, while holding the Hawks to only five points.
In addition to Punt’s 13 points, Colin Frey added nine points and Mason Larson scored eight and had six boards in the low-scoring affair.

Bodee Groos led the Hawks with 13 points in the game and Kade Groos also dented double figures with 10 points while Dalton Voelker had nine points and led all rebounders with 12 boards.
Langford Area will carry a 19-4 record into next week’s Class “B” Tournament in Aberdeen, while Colman-Egan ends the year with a record of 17-6.

Score by quarters
Colman-Egan 14 26 34 39
Langford Area 12 22 29 40

Colman-Egan (17-6): Kade Groos 4 0-0 10; Chase Hemmer 1 0-0 3; Bodee Groos 5 1-2 13; Keith Crisp 2 0-2 4; Dalton Voelker 4 1-2 9. Totals: 16 2-6 39.
Langford Area (19-4): Logan Block 2 0-0 5; Dylan Frey 1 0-0 3; Colin Frey 3 0-0 9; Mason Larson 4 0-0 8; Ryan Punt 6 1-2 13; Nicholas Kaplan 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 1-2 40.
FG: CE - 16-47 34%; LA - 17-37 46%. 3-pt FG: CE - 5-13 (K. Groos 2, B. Groos 2, Hemmer 1); LA - 5-11 (C. Frey 3, D. Frey 1, Block 1). Rebounds: CE - 30 (Voelker 12); LA - 24 (Larson 6). Turnovers: CE - 10; LA - 12. Assists: CE - 5 (K. Groos 2); LA - 6 (Block 2, Larson 2). Fouls: CE - 5; LA - 7.

MIKE CARROLL/PLAINSMAN
Ryan Punt of Langford Area has his eyes on the prize Wednesday night, as he makes a move toward the basket against the defensive efforts of Dalton Voelker of Colman-Egan in a “Round of 16” game at Huron Arena.

Next, Colman-Egan’s Kade Groos launches a baseline jumper over the outstretched hand of Nicholas Kaplan of Langford Area Wednesday night at Huron Arena.