SIOUX FALLS – The score belied the battle.

Third-seeded Rapid City Christian came away with a 76-53 victory over Clark-Willow Lake in the opening round of the Class A State Boys’ Basketball Tournament Thursday night, though not for lack of a fight from the Cyclones.

“They battled,” said Clark-Willow Lake coach Jerome Nesheim. “I’m proud of the way they battled.”

Clark-Willow Lake put up a handful more shots than their counterparts and were a respectable 40 percent from the field.

But Rapid City Christian was even more efficient, converting on 56 percent of its attempts while getting to the free throw line 19 times over the course of the game. The Comets missed just two of those attempts.

Nesheim said the Comets’ size and physicality started to wear on his squad as the game progressed.

“We gave up some easy shots at the end,” Nesheim said. “They’re good. They’re a legit team. They’re seniors and it showed to my young guys.”

Even more striking, the Comets were able to turn 14 Cyclone turnovers into 23 points. Clark-Willow Lake could not return the favor.

Sullivan Felberg had 16 points and nine rebounds to pace the Cyclones. Chris Bevers added 15 points and Emmerson Larson tallied 11.

Rapid City Christian got a game-best 20 points from Simon Kieffer. Benson Kieffer and Julius Frog notched 14 points apiece, while Aiden Roberts finished with 10.

Clark-Willow Lake, 18-5, will face Hill City in today’s consolation semifinals at 1:45 p.m.

“We told them, one of two things can happen,” Nesheim said. “We can mope about this and be playing for seventh and eighth, or we can bounce back and reload and recover and stay focused for the next game.”

CLARK-WILLOW LAKE (18-5): Emmerson Larson 5 1-4 11, Chris Bevers 6 2-2 15, Bo Begeman 3 1-2 7, Sullivan Felberg 6 2-3 16, Ky Vandersnick 0 1-2 1, Jakob Steen 1 0-0 3. Totals 21-52 7-13 53.

RAPID CITY CHRISTIAN (21-2): Simon Kieffer 6 6-6 20, Aiden Roberts 4 0-0 10, Benson Kieffer 4 6-7 14, Wes Schlabach 1 0-0 2, Julius Frog 7 0-0 14, Joaquin Petrik 1 0-0 3, Sully Kieffer 2 5-6 9, Jadon Moreno 1 0-0 2, Peyton Glenn 1 0-0 2. Totals 27-48 17-19 76.

Clark-Willow Lake 13 27 42 53

Rapid City Christian 21 40 57 76

3-point field goals – Bevers, Felberg 2, Steen; Simon Kieffer 2, Roberts 2, Petrik. Total fouls – Clark-Willow Lake 17; Rapid City Christian 17. Rebounds – Clark-Willow Lake 30 (Begeman 6, Felberg 9); Rapid City Christian 24 (Frog 8). Assists – Clark-Willow Lake 8 (Larson 2, Bevers 2, Begeman 2); Rapid City Christian 12 (Simon Kieffer 4, Roberts 3). Turnovers – Clark-Willow Lake 14; Rapid City Christian 8. Blocked shots – Clark-Willow Lake 3 (Begeman 2); Rapid City Christian 1 (Simon Kieffer). Steals – Clark-Willow Lake 5 (Joey Ries 2); Rapid City Christian 10 (Schlabach 3).