Held at the Lyman Gardens on Sunday, seniors from around the area in South Dakota competed in an All-Star basketball game in which the Red team beat the White team 125-102.
Bennett Dean of Pierre and Nathan Cook of Stanley County teamed up on the White team and combined for 29 points as Dean finished with 16 and Cook 13. Connor Libis of Dell Rapids St. Mary’s had the team high 23 for White as White River’s Kenyon Easter had nine, Lyman’s Cruz Garnos had 10, Chamberlain’s Hayden Evans finished with six, Wall’s Tack Tines had three.
On the other side, Dean’s longtime teammate, James Mikkonen had the last laugh as his team picked up the win as he finished with four points for the Red team. Zane Alm had the game high from Mitchell dropping in 35 points while Ashaun Roach-Valandra of Dell Rapids St. Mary’s had 26. Drayton Priebe of Chamberlain finished with eight while fellow teammate Cameron Caldwell finished with 21, Kadoka’s TJ Hamar had three, White River’s Colbe Scott had five, and Lyman’s Tyson Floyd had 15.
Dean says it’s a blast to play with kids from all three classes…
Dean says he was impressed with Class A and B players on how they were able to score…
Dean and Mikkonen have been teammates since they’ve been in fourth grade and Dean admits it was weird playing against his longtime friend…
Dean also says playing with Cook, was a lot of fun because of the close proximity of Riggs and Stanley County…
Dean, Mikkonen and Cook all finished their high school basketball careers on Sunday.
*Photo from Greg Dean
