SPEARFISH, S.D. — The Spearfish Spartans girls basketball team (8–5) delivered its most dramatic win of the season Saturday, storming back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Mitchell Kernels 61–55 at home.
Spearfish started fast, jumping out to a 10–3 lead behind a pair of buckets from Kate Scharf—including a three-pointer—and another triple from Adelyn Bouman. Mitchell responded with back-to-back threes to tighten the game, but Anna Eisenbarth answered from deep to put the Spartans back in front. Spearfish held a 16–15 edge late in the first quarter before a Mitchell three gave the Kernels an 18–16 lead heading into the second.
The momentum swung heavily in Mitchell’s favor in the second quarter. The Kernels ripped off a 12–0 run to build a 27–16 advantage and eventually stretched the margin to 38–21. Bouman stopped the surge with a late three, sending Spearfish to halftime trailing 38–24.
Mitchell pushed the lead to 44–25 early in the third before the Spartans began to chip away. Bouman ended the drought, and Spearfish methodically clawed back to within 12. Eisenbarth converted inside, and after a steal from Sierra Sanford, Scharf collected an offensive rebound and scored to trim the deficit to eight with just over a minute left in the quarter.
That set the stage for eighth grader Finley Bouman.
The younger Bouman, playing alongside her older sister Adelyn, sparked the comeback with two free throws to cut the lead to six, then buried a three-pointer to make it a one-possession game heading into the fourth quarter.
Spearfish carried that momentum into the final period. Scharf found Kali Reiners for a game-tying three, and the Spartans never trailed again. After trading baskets, freshman Megan Markovetz drilled a three to put Spearfish up four. Mitchell answered, but Reiners connected on another clutch triple to restore a five-point cushion.
The Kernels pulled within three once more before Finley Bouman delivered another dagger from deep to make it 56–50. After a Mitchell basket, Bouman buried her third three of the quarter to seal the victory and cap a remarkable rally.
Individual Statistics — Spearfish
Kate Scharf – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; 4–8 FG, 3–7 3PT
Finley Bouman – 14 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block; 3–6 FG, 3–5 3PT, 3–4 FT
Anna Eisenbarth – 11 points; 4–6 FG, 1–2 FT
Adelyn Bouman – 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Kali Reiners – 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Megan Markovetz – 3 points; 1–3 FG
Tiersyn Grubb – 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist; 1–3 FG
Sierra Sanford – 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist