STURGIS, SD – The Rapid City Stevens Raiders basketball squads battled with the Sturgis Scoopers on Friday night at West Gym, earning two road victories.
The Raider girls used full-court pressure defense to force double digit Scooper turnovers in the first half and led Sturgis, 24-9.
Rapid City Stevens extended their lead to 39-20 headed into the fourth quarter with back-to-back three pointers by Finley Love and Halle Peterson. The Raider girls brought in reserve players for most of the final quarter and cruised to a 59-30 win. The Scoopers fell to 3-14 on the season and Rapid City Stevens improved to 10-8.
In the boys contest, Sturgis led Stevens 11-7 after the first quarter, but the Raiders outscored the Scoopers 18-12 in the second behind the post play of Shun-Zi White Woman and led 25-23 at the intermission.
Rapid City Stevens continued to exploit the seams in the Scooper zone defense in the third quarter, as Kaelem Brooks and White Woman scored some easy buckets, and the Raiders extended their lead to 39-33 headed into the fourth.
Points were hard to come by in the final quarter as Sturgis tried to battle their way back into the game, but Stevens had an answer for every Scooper offensive set and outlasted Sturgis, 49-39 for the win.
White Woman led Stevens (12-6) with 16 points. Rapid City shot 44% from the field and 50% from the charity stripe, committing 13 turnovers and grabbing 33 rebounds.
Ryan Heinert scored 18 for Sturgis (6-11). The Scoopers shot 28% from the field and 73% from the free throw line. Sturgis had 15 turnovers and 24 rebounds.
The Scoopers are in action next on Tuesday, as they host the Douglas Patriots at West Gym. Girls tip-off is scheduled for 6pm.
