RAPID CITY – Clark-Willow Lake held the upper hand early, but Hamlin had the dealer’s hand late, surging in the second half to a 61-43 win over the Cyclones Saturday in the third-place game of the State A Boys’ Basketball Tournament at Summit Arena.

The Cyclones led, albeit narrowly, at the quarter and halftime breaks.

But that advantage didn’t last, as Hamlin pulled ahead in the third quarter, then held Clark-Willow Lake to just four points in the final stanza to pull away.

“We just got into a stretch in the third quarter where we just couldn’t score,” said Clark-Willow Lake coach Jerome Nesheim. “We had some layups and some good looks that just didn’t go in.”

That drought led to openings for the Chargers, who put up 21 points in the third to take the lead for good.

Saturday’s victory marked the third straight top-three finish for Hamlin, who won the title in 2024 and was the runner-up in 2025.

“It’s just hard getting here,” said Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf, adding that the sting of Friday’s loss to Sioux Falls Christian lasted well into Saturday. “It doesn’t feel good when you’re not playing in that championship game … but as soon as you get to the gym and get ready to go, the juices start to get going. You’re competing for an opportunity to win your last game and there’s only a handful of teams that get to win their last game. Proud of the way the kids handled it.”

The win avenged an earlier loss to the Cyclones for Hamlin. Boden Stevenson led all scorers with 22 points. He was joined in double figures by Jackson Wadsworth with 17 and Aiden Abraham with 10. Wadsworth also had eight rebounds and six assists and was given the Spirit of Su Award later in the evening. Hamlin’s cheer squad was also awarded the Spirit of Six.

“Those are awesome honors to get,” Neuendorf said.

Chris Bevers had 13 points to lead Clark-Willow Lake. Sullivan Felberg added 11, while Emmerson Larson had eight.

The contest marked the final games for a handful of seniors from both squads. Hamlin’s Jaden Olsen, Watson Grantham, Abraham and Wadsworth will depart for the Chargers, while Clark-Willow Lake will bid farewell to Ky Vandersnick, Larson, William Hovde, Levi Atkins and Masyn Knock.

“We tell all the guys you’ve got to enjoy every minute you make one of these,” Neuendorf said. “There’s no guarantee it’s ever coming back. It’s hard to get here and you have to seize that opportunity when you do get here.”

CLARK-WILLOW LAKE (21-3): Emmerson Larson 3 0-0 8, Chris Bevers 4 5-6 13, Jakob Steen 2 0-0 6, Bo Begeman 2 0-0 5, Sullivan Felberg 4 2-3 11. Totals 15 50 7-9 43.

HAMLIN (22-4): Boden Stevenson 10 0-0 22, Jack Stormo 1 1-2 3, Aiden Abraham 3 3-4 10, Jackson Wadsworth 4 8-8 17, Trig Heinrich 3 0-0 6, Jaden Olsen 1 0-0 3. Totals 22-41 12-14 61.

Clark-Willow Lake 12 25 39 43

Hamlin 8 23 44 61

3-pt field goals – Larson 2, Steen 2, Begeman, Felberg; Stevenson 2, Abraham, Wadsworth, Olson. Total fouls – Clark-Willow Lake 16; Hamlin 11. Rebounds –Clark-Willow Lake 22 (Begeman 7); Hamlin 32 (Wadsworth 8). Assists – Clark-Willow Lake 4 (Bevers 2); Hamlin 11 (Wadsworth 6). Turnovers – Clark-Willow Lake 9; Hamlin 11. Steals – Clark-Willow Lake 5 (Felberg 2); Hamlin 4 (Stormo 2). Blocks – Clark-Willow Lake 2 (Felberg 2); Hamlin 1 (Stevenson).