Titans wrap up season with back to back wins

The Tea Area High School boys’ basketball team wrapped up their regular season last week with a 53-41 win over Yankton and a 66-43 win over Elk Point Jefferson. 

Against Yankton, the Titans used a 15-7 fourth quarter advantage to get the win. Three Titans were in double figures with Sam Almas scoring 15 points, Marshall Smythe 13 and Boston Willemssen 11. Williemssen scored a double-double, pulling down 12 rebounds. 

Jessen Wiebenga finished with eight points. Garrett Wiebenga and Grifin Wiebenga each had three points. Leading the team in assists was Garrett Wiebenga and Smythe with three each. J. Wiebenga led the team in steals with three. 

“This was another really nice defensive showing from the boys. We have been one of the best defensive teams around for the latter half of the season and that will be the key to our postseason success,” said Titan head coach Drew Weber. “I am really proud of their effort night in and night out and hopefully we are able to continue playing good basketball heading into the postseason.”

Against Elk Point Jefferson, the Titans led early and never looked back. Willemssen led the team with 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Almas had 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Grifin Wiebenga had nine points, Smythe seven points, Keeton Newborg six, J. Wiebenga four, Carter Turek four, and Brenner Konrad two. Konrad led the team in steals with three. With the wins the Titans finish the regular season with an 11-9 record. 

“This was a tremendous way for us to close out the regular season. We were able to really assert ourselves on both ends of the court in the first half, taking a 40-15 lead into the break,” said Weber. “We really are starting to get good production across the board and I love our team’s energy and togetherness. We have a long layoff until our postseason begins, but that will give us some quality time to prepare for a March run.”

Playoff action is set to begin on Feb. 27, with the winners advancing to the second round on Mar. 1. The winner of the Mar. 1 games will advance to the SoDak 16.