RAPID CITY – Flandreau put Groton into an early hole and the Tigers were never able to climb back out of it Thursday afternoon.

The Fliers opened up a double-digit first-half lead and make it hold up in a 50-36 opening round win during the State A Boys’ Basketball Tournament at The Monument.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed in how today ended up,” said Groton coach Brian Dolan. “Their size was just a little too much for us to overcome, but I thought our kids played their hearts out and we had tremendous effort.”

Tash Lunday, 6-foot-5, and Chase LeBrun, 6-6, did a bulk of the damage for Flandreau combining for 35 points.

Lunday finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while LeBrun added a dozen points.

Flandreau’s length was also a factor on the other end of the floor, where Groton had a difficult time scoring.

“Flandreau did a nice job making it hard for us to get going on the offensive end,” Dolan said, “but we also missed a few really good opportunities at crucial times of the game. Flandreau has a good basketball team and we wish them the best of luck against Dakota Valley.”

Jacob Zak was the lone Groton player in double figures with 12 points. Jayden Zak followed with eight.

The Tigers, 20-4 on the season, face Sioux Falls Christian in consolation round action at noon (MDT) today.

“Now it’s time for us to get ready to play Sioux Falls Christian and give the same effort we have been giving all year again (Friday),” Dolan said.

GROTON (20-4): Jayden Zak 3 0-0 8, Wyatt Hearnen 1 2-2 4, Kaden Kurtz 3 0-0 6, Jacob Zak 5 1-2 12, Tate Larson 2 2-4 6. Totals 14-34 5-8 36.

FLANDREAU (20-3): Paul Parsley 1 0-0 2, Chase LeBrun 4 4-5 12, Liam Streitz 4 0-0 8, Luke Sheppard 1 0-0 2, Alex Anderson 1 1-2 3, Tash Lunday 10 2-3 23. Totals 21-41 7-10 50.

Groton 10 17 27 36

Flandreau 15 27 38 50

3-point field goals – Jayden Zak 2, Jacob Zak; Lunday. Total fouls – Groton 11; Flandreau 10. Rebounds – Groton 18 (Larson 5, Jacob Zak 4); Flandreau 24 (Lunday 10). Turnovers – Groton 14; Flandreau 11. Assists – Groton 9 (Lane Tietz 3); Flandreau 8 (Lunday 2). Steals – Groton 4; Flandreau 8.