SIOUX FALLS – Dakota Valley’s 51-game win streak looked tenuous for two quarters.

But the Panthers wouldn’t be kept at bay for four.

The top-rated Panthers scored 19 straight points to open the second half and bottled up Hamlin’s shooters – who could hardly miss in the first half – en route to a 77-63 win in the semifinals of the Class A Boys’ State Basketball Tournament Friday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

“We came out well,” said Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf. “The kids shot the ball well. We were getting good looks.”

The Chargers led by nine points at halftime, due in large part to nine made 3-pointers.

But a veteran, senior-led Dakota Valley squad adjusted.

“They came out and played a lot more physical,” Neuendorf said. “We didn’t match their physicality until it was too late. By the time we matched it, I think it was about two minutes left in the third quarter.”

Hamlin matched the Panthers blow-for-blow in the fourth, but that early third-quarter run was all Dakota Valley needed.

“You’ve got to give them a lot of credit,” Neuendorf said. “They went to another level and that’s what championship teams do.”

Easton Neuendorf finished with 16 points and nine assists in the game. Tyson Stevenson had 14 points on four 4-pointers, all in the first half. Zach Van Meeteren had eight points and seven rebounds before fouling out of the contest.

Dakota Valley was led by Isaac Bruns with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Bruns went 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Randy Rosenquist added 20 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Jaxson Wingert tossed in 18 points for the Panthers.

Hamlin will take on Elk Point-Jefferson, the eighth seed, in tonight third-place matchup. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

HAMLIN (20-4): Easton Neuendorf 5 4-5 16, Brennan Keszler 4 0-0 8, Dawson Noem 1 0-0 3, Tyson Stevenson 5 0-2 14, Zac Van Meeteren 3 0-0 8, Rylan Bawdon 1 0-0 3, Evan Stormo 2 2-3 7, Jackson Wadsworth 1 1-2 4. Totals 22-51 7-12 63.

DAKOTA VALLEY (25-0): Jaxon Hennies 1 0-0 3, Isaac Bruns 8 11-11 27, Sam Faldmo 2 0-2 4, Randy Rosenquist 9 1-1 20, Jaxson Wingert 6 6-9 18, Luke Bruns 1 2-2 5. Totals 27-52 20-25 77.

Hamlin 23 39 43 63

Dakota Valley 18 30 56 77

3-point field goals – Hamlin 12-30 (Neuendorf 2, Noem, Stevenson 4, Van Meeteren 2, Bawdon, Stormo, Wadsworth); Dakota Valley 3-10 (Hennies, Rosenquist, L. Bruns). Fouled out – Van Meeteren. Total fouls – Hamlin 17; Dakota Valley 12. Rebounds – Hamlin 18 (Van Meeteren 7); Dakota Valley 41 (I. Bruns 12). Turnovers – Hamlin 8; Dakota Valley 11. Assists – Hamlin 14 (Neuendorf 9); Dakota Valley 15 (Rosenquist 9). Blocked shots – Hamlin 2; Dakota Valley 4 (I. Bruns 2, Rosenquist 2). Steals – Hamlin 6 (Neuendorf 3); Dakota Valley 6 (Rosenquist 4).