RAPID CITY -- Mobridge-Pollock's defense was up to the challenge, but the offense disappeared in the second half.
The Tigers' defense gave up an average of 57 points a game this season and held Platte-Geddes to 47. The offense averaged 66 points a game but managed just 34. Platte-Geddes defeated Mobridge-Pollock 47-34 on Saturday in the third place game at the State A Boys' Basketball Tournament at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Tigers finished the season with a 19-7 record.
"I don't know what happened. I told the boys it looked like there was Saran Wrap on the rim," said Mobridge-Pollock coach Tim Frederick. "Shots just weren't falling for us. I'm sure a little bit of it had to do with the fatigue factor. When you come in and beat one of the teams that you have a nice rivalry with (Aberdeen Roncalli) and then you take the whipping we took yesterday from Madison. It's hard to recover from that."
Mobridge-Pollock trailed 13-6 after the first quarter because Platte-Geddes brought out its three-point game. The Black Panthers connected on four of the long range field goals in the opening eight minutes. Platte-Geddes opened the second period with two free throws by Hunter Johnson for a 15-6 lead.
The Tigers responded with nine unanswered points to tie the game at 15-all. Pearson Wientjes tallied six points in the run.
The Black Panthers came back to outscore the Tigers 7-3 to go into halftime with a 22-18 lead. Mobridge-Pollock's offense went cold for the rest of the game. The Tigers would go 7-of-23 from the field in the second half. M-P scored just four points in the third quarter and trailed 34-22.
In the fourth quarter P-G went to the free throw line 14 times and made eight. In the game P-G was 14-of-22 from the charity stripe and M-P was 1-of 2.
"I want to give my kids credit. They still battled. We just couldn't get the ball to fall. Defensively, I thought we were doing the things we needed to do. When we can't score, we can't press then we're in trouble because we're an undersized basketball team," said Frederick.
Coby Johnson was Platte-Geddes' scoring leader with 23. Hunter Johnson added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Zach Dockter was the only Tiger in double figures with 12 points.
"I thanked the seniors for basically setting the bar. Now, the underclassmen will have to continue doing what they did and work hard in practice and spend time in the off season and get us better. We're not satisfied. I've coached a long time and I've been fortunate to be part of state championships. That's what you're ultimate goal is," said Frederick.
The Tigers seniors are Dockter, Pearson Wientjes, Alex Greger, Cody Schaefbauer and Daniel Roberts.
"Going to state was pretty exciting knowing that all your hard work paid off," said Schaefbauer. "It was our dream. At the start of the season we were 0-3. It just hit us in the face but we recovered."
Playing in the state tournament will be a long time memory.
"I'll be able to tell little kids what it was like when they get older. I can tell them how it was at state," said Schaefbauer.
MOBRIDGE-POLLOCK: Zach Dockter 5-10 1-2 12, Pearson Wientjes 4-8 0-0 8, Cody Schaefbauer 1-3 0-0 2, Mitchel Heumiller 4-14 0-0 9, Daniel Roberts 0-6 0-0 0, Preston Frederick 1-3 0-0 3, Tyler Villbrandt 0-0 0-0 0, Eric Looyenga 0-0 0-0 0, Reece Wientjes 0-0 0-0 0, Jason Hill 0-4 0-0 0, Mason Keller 0-2 0-0 0, Ethan Kettering 0-0 0-0 0, Tanner Jerome 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-50 1-2 34.
PLATTE-GEDDES: Richard Sternberg 2-9 0-1 4, Tate VanZee 0-3 2-4 2, Matthew Randall 1-7 3-4 6, Hunter Johnson 3-5 2-2 10, Coby Johnson 8-11 5-7 23, Turner Antonsen 0-1 0-0 0, Drew Turnis 0-0 1-2 1, Zach Warejcka 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 14-36 14-22 47.
Mobridge-Pollock (19-7)| 6 18 22 34
Platte-Geddes (18-)| 13 22 34 47
3-point field goals - MP 3-15 (Dockter 1-2, P. Wientjes 0-1, Schaefbauer 0-2, Heumiller 1-5, Roberts 0-1, Frederick 1-3, Keller 0-1); PG 5-14 (Sternberg 0-4, VanZee 0-1, Randall 1-3, H. Johnson 2-3, C. Johnson 2-3). Total fouls - MP 19; PG 8. Rebounds - MP 30 (P. Wientjes 7); PG 29 (H. Johnson 7). Turnovers - MP 10; PG 9. Assists - MP 6; PG 12 (Sternberg 5). Steals - MP 5 (Dockter 2); PG 6 (Sternberg 2, Randall 2). Blocked shots - MP 4 (P. Wientges 2); PG 1 (C. Johnson). Officials - Scott Mack, Eric Sazue, Todd Palmer.