With frantic rally, O'Gorman girls complete Class AA championship repeat over Brandon Valley
Mar. 16—RAPID CITY — On the ropes against a daunting Brandon Valley team, Sioux Falls O'Gorman girls basketball stuck to one plan: win the next possession.
Living in that mindset produced a frantic rally for the ages.
O'Gorman erased a 12-point fourth-quarter lead to successfully defend its Class AA state girls basketball championship, topping Brandon Valley 47-46 at the Summit Arena on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's title game. The Knights also extended their winning streak to 50 games dating back to the 2023 state tournament.
O'Gorman coach Kent Kolsrud's simple message to the players at each stoppage brought a tight-knit group even closer together.
"It was really cool just seeing them realize, 'Okay, this isn't going to be easy, but it's not impossible,'" senior Julia Eggert said. "They did a really good job working together and working hard."
The comeback followed Eggert fouling out with 5 minutes and 52 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter with the Lynx up by 10. Amanda Lease hit both free throws to put Brandon Valley further out in front, but Sydney Terveen immediately followed with a basket to reset the deficit to 10.
O'Gorman picked up the pace and engaged its full-court press, wanting to force the Lynx players to get passes high enough in the air to make a play on the ball. Ruby Moore picked up four of the Knights' five steals in a span of two minutes, keying a 7-0 scoring run and rejuvenating the rest of the roster.
"We had to get the tempo going," said Moore, a sophomore and a South Dakota State University commit. "We had to find ways to score and we never gave up and hung our heads. We kept saying, 'It wasn't over until it's over,' and took whatever shots we could get."
"There's no 11-point play to get back into the game," Kolsrud added. "Whether that's getting a defensive stop, a rebound or attacking the paint on offense, you just kind of keep grinding and playing as hard as we can for 32 minutes and our kids bought into that."
Terveen hit a floater with 1:17 remaining to pull the Knights within two points of Brandon Valley. Following Ava Kellenberger's layup, Moore hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and immediately stole the ball from Gracie Salter — Moore's sixth of the game — running down the lane and converting the game-winning bucket with 33 seconds left.
"That was a big-time play," Kolsrud said of the sequence. "To have the basketball IQ to be in the right position to go make a steal and then make a clutch basket, (Ruby) is a big-time player: making big plays when we need them badly."
Brandon Valley's last-chance effort fell short with 11 seconds to go following Sadie Mehrman's free-throw misses, as Kellenberger's contested attempts in the post came up short as the buzzer sounded.
The rally preceded the Lynx maintaining the lead from the 2:55 mark in the first quarter through an early fourth-quarter 9-3 run. Alyvia Padgett scored the game's first five points and seven of her team-best 12 points after the opening period of play. Lease finished with 11 points, three assists and three steals and Kellenberger had nine points. Brandon Valley finished as the runner-up for the second consecutive season at 21-3.
Terveen led all scorers with 21 points, going 3-of-6 behind the arc on a night O'Gorman shot only 29.3% from the 3-point line. Moore tallied 14 points with two assists and Eggert had eight points and three rebounds.
Completing its second consecutive perfect season at 24-0 en route to winning the program's third championship in four years, O'Gorman will look to keep the competitive drive that's brought them to the top of the Class AA echelon.
"Coming into this year, we still wanted more," Moore said, "And those streaks don't keep us content. I just hope we can come back and play with as much fire as we did now, even after two years of winning, which I know we will."
Class AA awards
Spirit of Su: Grace Peterson, Sioux Falls Washington
Spirit of Six: Rapid City Stevens High School
All-tournament team: Emery Larson (Pierre), Abby Horner (Sioux Falls Jefferson), Jozie Dana (Spearfish), Addie Siemsen (Mitchell), Taaliyah Porter (Rapid City Stevens), Grace Peterson (Sioux Falls Washington), Dana Harpe (Sioux Falls Washington), Gracie Salter (Brandon Valley), Alyvia Padgett (Brandon Valley), Julia Eggert (O'Gorman), Sydney Terveen (O'Gorman), Ruby Moore (O'Gorman)
Topics
-
O'Gorman, Brandon Valley, S.F. Washington & R.C. Stevens earn wins in State AA girls hoops
O'Gorman upped its record to 22-0 by rolling past Sioux Falls Jefferson in the opening game of the 2025 State AA girls basketball tourneyYahoo Sports - 2d -
O'Gorman rolls over Rapid City Stevens to advance to South Dakota girls basketball title game
O’Gorman will face Brandon Valley in the Class AA state title game for the second consecutive year.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
O'Gorman looks to close out perfect season with a state Class AA girls hoops championship
O'Gorman will put its 23-0 record on the line when it faces Brandon Valley (21-2) in Saturday's championship gameYahoo Sports - 1d -
Padgett's signature night puts Brandon Valley past Washington in Class AA girls semifinals
Mar. 15—RAPID CITY — With a spot in the championship game at stake, Brandon Valley's Alyvia Padgett put together a signature performance on Friday night. It was one that advanced the Lynx through ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Class A girls state basketball roundup: Wagner comeback falls short against Sioux Valley
Mar. 14—SPEARFISH, S.D. — After trailing by double-digits in the second half, the Wagner girls basketball got within three points of Sioux Valley in the consolation round of the Class A girls state ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Brandon Valley cruises to South Dakota girls state basketball tournament victory over Pierre
Brandon Valley will face Washington in the semifinals at 7:45 p.m. MT on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Morgantown falls short in Class AAAA state championship with 62-45 loss to Spring Valley
Mar. 15—CHARLESTON — The Morgantown girls' basketball team fell 62-45 to top-seeded Spring Valley in the Class AAAA state championship on Saturday in Charleston. The Timberwolves took an 11-8 lead ...Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Alyvia Padgett leads Brandon Valley past Washington, back to AA state title game
Brandon Valley will now face O’Gorman for the Class AA state title for the second year in a rowYahoo Sports - 1d -
PHOTO GALLERY | 'We didn't quit': Central Cambria girls rally, but fall short in Class 3A quarterfinal
NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Central Cambria High School girls basketball team implemented a spirited, sometimes frantic pace while cutting a 14-point deficit to four points in the final minute of ...Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Quentin Grimes reacts to return to Dallas after Sixers beat Mavericks
Quentin Grimes gave his reaction in his return to Dallas after the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Mavericks on Sunday afternoon.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Quentin Grimes reacts to return to Dallas after Sixers beat Mavericks
Quentin Grimes gave his reaction in his return to Dallas after the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Mavericks on Sunday afternoon.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson brings legendary career to end
Irish hockey fans will have to get used to not seeing a legend standing behind the bench from now on.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson brings legendary career to end
Irish hockey fans will have to get used to not seeing a legend standing behind the bench from now on.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Ayden Heaven injury — Manchester United teen defender stretchered off at Leicester City
Manchester United teenage defender Ayden Heaven was stretchered off the King Power Stadium pitch following an ugly injury in a match at Leicester City on Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 1h
More in Sports
-
Source: Pulisic in talks over new AC Milan deal
United States national team star Christian Pulisic is in negotiations with AC Milan over a new contract, a source has told ESPN.ESPN - 9m -
Hanshin Tigers sweep Cubs, Dodgers in shutouts
The Hanshin Tigers capped a two-game sweep over MLB clubs with a 3-0 win over the Dodgers, following a matching victory over the Cubs the day before.ESPN - 9m -
Betts struggling with illness, could miss opener
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is still struggling to recover from an illness, with manager Dave Roberts pessimistic that the eight-time All-Star will be ready for Opening Day in Japan.ESPN - 9m -
Ravens adding QB Rush as Lamar's new backup
The Ravens reached agreement with former Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush on Sunday, his agency, Equity Sports, announced.ESPN - 9m -
Newcastle beat Liverpool, win first trophy since '69
Newcastle United ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought as they beat Liverpool 2-1 to win the Carabao Cup.ESPN - 9m