SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Christian boys basketball team claimed the program’s first state championship in four years with a 61-51 victory over Hamlin in the Class ‘A’ title game.
The Chargers finished as runners-up each of the last two seasons, including falling to Hamlin last March. With the rematch this season, SFC enacted revenge on the Chargers, which makes the victory even sweeter.
“Oh, yeah, for sure,” Sioux Falls Christian senior forward Griffen Goodbary said. “Especially with it being Hamlin again. Just feels great. It’s crazy how it works out. I’ll remember this moment forever.”
“It hurts when you’re so close and you don’t get it,” Sioux Falls Christian head coach Mike Schouten said. “And so to be able to get over the hump and get the job done this year it’s phenomenal feeling.”
Standout forward Griffen Goodbary was sensational in the state tournament. He posted a double-double of 32 points and 15 rebounds in the title game.
“He came up big,” Schouten said. “And you know we knew that he was going to have to and he knew it too. And all the kids in there knew that they had to step up.”
Griffen’s younger brother, Cooper, accepted the trophy after suffering an injury in the quarterfinals, which sidelined him the rest of the tournament.
“He couldn’t be on the court, but we wanted to include him in as many ways as we could,” Schouten said. “And so we just thought that was appropriate, that he would be the one to hoist the trophy. Because we may not be here without him.”
Sioux Falls Christian has now won three titles in the last decade, joining the 2016 and 2021 teams.
“They’re all special,” Schouten said. “All those boys who have played for me in the past, everyone each one is special. And because each team was a little bit different.”
Sioux Falls Christian completed the season with a 24-1 record. The Chargers are 49-2 over the last two years.
