On Friday, Feb. 23 the Lennox High School boys’ basketball team hosted Dakota Valley in their final regular season game. Lennox went toe to toe with the Panthers in the opening half but let things get out of hand in the second half, falling to Dakota Valley 72-58.
Both Tate Gerdes and Porter Ihnen were in double digits for the Orioles in their match-up against the Panthers. Gerdes finished with 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Ihnen had a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds. He also had four assists and two steals. Talan Diercks and Braxton Musser each had nine points in the game. Drake Mikkelsen finished with six points and Boston Katzer had three. Katzer also had four assists in the game.
The 13-7 Orioles were to host the 9-11 Beresford Watchdogs on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the first round of Region playoffs.
“As we head into the playoffs, we are taking it one day at a time. It’s important that each day we continue to be focused on getting better in order to perform at the highest level,” said LHS head coach Chris Buckmiller. “All of the successes and adversity we have faced this regular season has strengthened us as a team. This week is the last week that our seniors will ever play on our home court again. We want them to be on the winning side when the clock shows zero. It takes everybody for that to happen. Believe.”
The winner of the Lennox/Beresford match-up will take on the winner of the Vermillion/Elk Point Jefferson match-up, should Lennox win they will host on Friday, March 1. The winner of that match-up will qualify for the SoDak 16.