BROOKINGS – Hamlin held Sioux Falls Christian scoreless for nearly eight minutes in the opening half and then held off a late rally to grab a 47-34 first round victory during the State A Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Thursday night.

Hamlin eventually built a 28-8 lead in the second quarter before SFC began to chip away at the lead. Christian was finally able to cut the margin down to 40-34 in the closing minutes before Hamlin scored the final seven points to ice the win.

Kami Wadsworth scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Ally Abraham added 16 points and eight rebounds to power Hamlin, which improved to 22-2 on the season.

SFC was led by Ellie Lems with 13 points and Kyla vanDonkergoed with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Hamlin, which lost in the Class A championship game a year ago, will try to get back to the title contest with a win this evening. Hamlin takes on West Central in the semifinals at 7:45 p.m.

SIOUX FALLS CHRISTIAN (20-4): Moriah Harrison 2 1-6 5, Jaxsyn Swift 0 2-2 2, Ellie Lems 4 5-6 13, Rachel VanNieuwenhuyzen 1 0-0 2, Kyla vanDonkersgoed 5 1-1 12. Totals 12-46 9-15 34.

HAMLIN (22-2): Brooklyn Brandriet 2 0-2 5, Ally Abraham 6 2-3 16, Kami Wadsworth 5 9-10 21, Zoie Fraser 1 3-6 5. Totals 14-42 14-22 47.

Sioux Falls Christian 6 13 21 34

Hamlin 15 28 35 47

3-point field goals – vanDonkersgoed; Brandriet, Abraham 2, Wadsworth 2. Fouled out – VanNieuwenhuyzen, vanDonkersgoed; Addison Neuendorf. Total fouls – Sioux Falls Christian 22; Hamlin 18. Rebounds – Sioux Falls Christian 31 (vanDonkersgoed 9); Hamlin 38 (Wadsworth 9, Abraham 8). Turnovers – Sioux Falls Christian 14; Hamlin 15. Assists – Sioux Falls Christian 3; Hamlin 9. Steals – Sioux Falls Christian 7; Hamlin 4.