SIOUX FALLS – Hamlin put its shooting prowess on display Thursday evening, making buckets at a 70 percent clip through the first three quarters of play en route to an 82-43 win over Hill City in the opening round of the Class A State Boys’ Basketball Tournament.

Hamlin, the defending Class A champion, was 27-for-38 to begin the game, including a 6-for-14 (43 percent) effort from long range. The result was a quick and continually expanding lead over the Rangers, Hamlin in complete control.

While the Chargers cooled to a paltry 62 percent by game’s end, the early damage was more than enough to carry Hamlin into tonight’s semifinals.

Charger head coach Todd Neuendorf said his team was able to take advantage of its size differential over the Rangers.

“We got some good looks at the rim, some inside touches,” Neuendorf said. “You shoot well when you move it in a little bit.”

Neuendorf said the Chargers took fewer three-point attempts than normal, but moving the shot toward the rim certainly paid off. Hamlin was 21-for-24 from 2-point range over the first three quarters.

Five different Hamlin players reached double figures led by Dawson Noem’s 18 points. Easton Neuendorf, Evan Stormo and Jackson Wadsworth all finished with 13 points, while Boden Stevenson came off the bench for a dozen. Zach Van Meeteren finished with eight points and eight rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double.

“We’ve had that all year,” Coach Neuendorf said. “We’ve had really balanced scoring, maybe in a different sense, if one guy is off or two guys off, we’ve got others picking up the slack. But that’s how we’ve been playing. We talk about assists and sharing the basketball. Move it and if I’ve got a good shot and he’s got a great shot, get it to the great shot.”

Hill City, playing in its first ever state tournament, got 17 points from Devin Buehler and another 16 from Zane Messick. The Rangers shot the ball at a 27.9 percent clip in comparison to Hamlin’s blistering pace.

Hamlin will face Rapid City Christian in the championship semifinals tonight at 7:45. That contest is a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Hamlin won on its way to the state title.

“It’ll be a tough basketball game,” Neuendorf said. “They’re very good. We played them last year in the same game and it was close, back and forth. I’m sure they are going to change some stuff from when we played them at the Corn Palace (earlier this season).”

HILL CITY (19-5): Everett Sullivan 1 1-2 3, Devin Buehler 4 7-7 17, Zane Messick 5 4-6 16, Alex Stoeckmann 1 0-0 3, Dax Frandsen 1 0-0 2, Karson Kolb 0 2-2 2. Totals 12-43 14-19 43.

HAMLIN (21-2): Easton Neuendorf 5 2-2 13, Evan Stormo 6 1-2 13, Jackson Wadsworth 4 2-3 13, Dawson Noem 7 3-4 18, Zach Van Meeteren 4 0-0 8, Boden Stevenson 5 2-4 12, Turner Stevenson 1 0-0 3, Owen Taschner 1 0-0 2. Totals 33-53 10-15 82.

Hill City 12 25 39 43

Hamlin 23 44 69 82

3-point field goals – Buehler 2, Messick 2, Stoeckmann; Neuendorf, Wadsworth 3, Noem, T. Stevenson. Total fouls – Hill City 16; Hamlin 14. Rebounds – Hill City 22 (Sullivan 6); Hamlin 35 (Noem 8, Van Meeteren 8). Assists – Hill City 6 (Brayden Wilkison 2); Hamlin 20 (Neuendorf 10). Turnovers – Hill City 11; Hamlin 8. Blocks – Hill City 1 (Kolb); Hamlin 3 (Wadsworth, Noem, Van Meeteren). Steals – Hill City 1 (Frandsen); Hamlin 9.