WATERTOWN – In a game featuring two squads with state tournament pedigrees, Hamlin made the key plays down the stretch to turn back Sisseton Thursday night.

The Chargers outscored Sisseton 11-2 in the final three minutes to claim a 55-47 Class A SoDak 16 girls’ basketball win at the Watertown Civic Arena.

“Everyone just did little things at the right moment, whether it’s a big shot here, big shots there, playing defense,” said Hamlin coach Tim Koisti. “They have so much size and so much experience, that I knew this was going to be a tough draw for us.”

The Chargers owned a seven-point lead in the third quarter, before the Redmen rallied to tie the game at 34-34 heading into the final eight minutes.

From there it was a battle to the finish and Sisseton jumped in front on a 3-pointer from Ruby Rice with three minutes remaining. However, the offense dried up after that as Hamlin forced four turnovers in the closing minutes.

“We were pressuring more,” said Hamlin point guard Addie Neuendorf. “We understood that we have some experience on this team, so we kind of knew that if we get up … cause some chaos, we’ll be able to get some turnovers, hopefully.”

Sisseton managed just one field goal in the final minutes as the Chargers pulled away.

“I think we were trying to win the whole game in one play instead of waiting for the whole entire game,” said Sisseton coach Sara Lincoln.

While the Redmen were struggling on one end of the floor, Hamlin made one free throw after another another on its end to take control. Jo Steffensen made six straight free throws to ice the victory.

The outcome foiled the performance of Sisseton senior center Krista Langager, who finished with game-high totals of 19 points and eight rebounds after Hamlin held her in check in a prior meeting.

“This time I knew they were going to come out and try to stop me,” Langager said. “I did everything I could do to work hard, and just try and get more numbers on the board.”

In the end, it wasn’t quite enough as Hamlin scored on five of its last six possessions of the contest.

“They’re a good a team,” Langager said, “and it’s hard to stop a good team.”

It was Neuendorf, who played on Hamlin’s state championship squad two years ago, that helped the Chargers get back to the tourney after a year’s absence. The junior – who just committed to play at Northern State – made five 3-pointers in the contest.

“I had a few go in in the first half,” Neuendorf said, “so I kind of had that confidence behind me so I was just going to let if fly.”

Neuendorf had a trio of 3-pointers in the final period, the last coming with 2:08 remaining to give Hamlin the lead for good.

“Addie’s a big-time player,” Koisti said, “and big-time players step up in big-time moments, and she just makes shots like that.”

Addelyn Jensen added 13 points to the Hamlin total and Steffensen finished with 11, including an 8-for-8 performance at the charity stripe.

The two Northeast Conference squads were both part of the 2023 state tournament in Watertown and know each other well.

“Having played them every year, year in a year out, they’re just a good quality program, with good coaches and great players, and we’re fortunate to win,” Koisti said.

Saylor Langager added 10 points to the Sisseton total.

The contest was the final one in a Sisseton uniform for Krista Langager, who is headed to play at the University of Sioux Falls next season.

“I’m proud of my team,” she said, “and I hope they can go out next year and do great things.”

The Redmen finished the year at 15-8 and came close to making a third straight trip to the state tournament, despite losing a good share of their starting lineup to graduation a year ago.

“We told them that at the beginning of the year, it’s going to be a lot of changing of roles and just adapting to things,” Lincoln said, “and the last couple weeks they really stepped up, and just came up a little bit short tonight.”

Hamlin will take a 19-3 record into next week’s state tournament where it will face Mobridge-Pollock in the opening round on Thursday in Spearfish.

“It’s going to be fun. Like I told them it’s a guaranteed three games,” Koisti said. “I think we’ve got just as good a chance as anybody with the guard play that we have. That keeps us in games.”

SISSETON (15-8): Saylor Langager 5 0-0 10, Krista Langager 8 3-9 19, Ruby Rice 1 0-0 3, Elliot Hortness 3 1-1 7, Tara Nelson 0 0-4 0, Fallon Hawkins 1 1-2 3, Kennedy Hanson 2 0-0 5. Totals 20-39 5-16 47.

HAMLIN (19-3): Addelyn Jensen 5 3-5 13, Addie Steffensen 1 4-6 7, Addison Neuendorf 6 1-2 18, Issie Steffensen 1 0-0 3, Jo Steffensen 1 8-8 11, Paxton Neuendorf 1 0-0 3. Totals 15-40 16-21 55.

Sisseton 14 22 34 47

Hamlin 14 24 34 55

3-point field goals – Rice, Hanson; A. Steffensen, Neuendorf 5, I. Steffensen, J. Steffensen, P. Neuendorf. Fouled out – I. Steffensen. Total fouls – Sisseton 19; Hamlin 20. Rebounds – Sisseton 27 (K. Langager 8); Hamlin 24 (Jensen 6, J. Steffensen 6). Turnovers – Sisseton 18; Hamlin 10. Assists – Sisseton 11; Hamlin 14 (Neuendorf 6). Steals – Sisseton 4; Hamlin 6.