WATERTOWN – Hamlin overcame a double-digit first-half deficit, but was unable to withstand a late rally by Sioux Falls Christian Saturday evening at the Watertown Civic Arena.

The Chargers of SFC scored the final nine points of the game to edge the Chargers of Hamlin 51-50 to claim third place in the State A Girls’ Basketball Tournament.

Hamlin center Addelyn Jensen got into early foul trouble, picking up her third to start the second quarter. She missed major portions of the contest and SFC took advantage of it.

The tandem of 6-foot-2 Lezlei Setzer and 6-foot Emory Lems worked inside for 21 points as Christian built a 10-point halftime cushion.

However, Hamlin produced a 21-point third quarter to surge ahead. Addison Neuendorf scored 12 of those points to help wipe out the deficit and give her team a 43-39 lead heading into the final period.

“We hit some shots and made some plays,” said Hamlin coach Tim Koisti. “We started attacking downhill on some of that stuff. The kids had no quit and I’m super proud of the way they played today.”

However, Jensen picked up her fourth foul midway through the third period. Reserve Jade Thue helped to pick up the slack, but is three inches shorter.

“Jade really stepped up tonight and did a lot of really good things,” Koisti said, “but it really hurts us when lose Addie Jensen.”

That lineup switch forced Hamlin to play a zone defense, and SFC exploited it.

“With Addie out we had to go to a zone, because Jade’s not a post player, but she’s our next tallest player. She’s got to step up and do that,” Kosti said. “When you play zone a whole lot, obviously there’s holes and they found a few of those holes, especially early.”

Hamlin still owned a 50-42 lead after Neuendorf nailed a 3-pointer with 4:41 remaining. However, that was the last time the team would score for the rest of the game.

Hamlin missed four shots and turned the ball over three times, and Jensen eventually fouled out in the final minute. Meanwhile, SFC kept inching closer and finally got the margin down to a single point.

Christian had several chances to take the lead, missing a shot and two free throws before it collected yet another offensive rebound which turned into a pair of free throws by Lems, including the game-winner with 5.3 seconds remaining.

Neuendorf, who finished with a game-high 24 points, missed a half-court shot at the buzzer as Hamlin ended its season with a 22-3 record.

“No one would have pictured us only losing once in the regular season, with the schedule that we played,” Koisti said. “So much credit goes to the girls, especially Addie Neuendorf. What a way to go out as a senior. I was hoping that that last-second half-court heave would have gone in. That would have been something special.”

Neuendorf was named to the all-tournament team capping a stellar career at Hamlin.

“She’s a gamer. She always steps up in big games for us. We’re really going to miss her,” Koisti said. “Just super proud of the work that she’s put in. She’s just gotten better and better as a leader and as a person. She’s just been an amazing kid to work with and we’re going to miss her a lot.”

Hamlin will also lose senior starter Sarita Stevenson, who did a lot of things that did not show up in a box score.

“For her to come back from a knee injury last year where she didn’t get to play at all, she really did a lot of good things for us,” Koisti said.

Lennox ended up winning the state championship after coming in as the fifth seed, reinforcing what Koisti said before the tournament that any of a number of teams could win it.

“We could play it again. Quite honestly, we beat the state champions twice this year so it could have just as easily been us,” Koisti said, “but you have to give credit to them, because they played well for these three days, and made some shots and played good defense. For us, we just didn’t make the shots that we normally do.”

SIOUX FALLS CHRISTIAN (21-5): Aubrie VanBeek 1 0-0 3, Emory Lems 6 2-2 14, Sydney Schaap 0 2-2 2, Lezlei Setzer 7 4-8 18, Oaklee Hadler 2 1-2 7, Makinli Reitsma 2 0-0 5, Nealie Stanford 1 0-0 2. Totals 19-50 9-14 51.

HAMLIN (22-3): Addison Neuendorf 7 7-7 24, Sarita Stevenson 2 2-2 7, Paxton Neuendorf 2 0-0 4, Issie Steffensen 2 1-2 5, Addelyn Jensen 2 0-0 4, Jade Thue 2 1-2 6. Totals 17-46 11-13 50.

Sioux Falls Christian 17 32 39 51

Hamlin 12 22 43 50

3-point field goals – VanBeek, Hadler 2, Reitsma; A. Neuendorf 3, Stevenson, Thue. Fouled out – Jensen. Total fouls – Sioux Falls Christian 17; Hamlin 11. Rebounds – Sioux Falls Christian 35 (Setzer 8); Hamlin 26 (Stevenson 5). Turnovers – Sioux Falls Christian 14; Hamlin 9. Assists – Sioux Falls Christian 18 (Hadler 5, Schaap 4); Hamlin 16 (Stevenson 4, P. Neuendorf 4, Steffensen 4). Steals – Sioux Falls Christian 8; Hamlin 12 (Steffensen 5).