DE SMET — De Smet added another impressive win to its résumé.

Behind a strong third quarter, the Class B No. 1 Bulldogs claimed a 46-32 win over Class A No. 5 Flandreau on Tuesday.

De Smet (17-1) has captured six wins over Class A teams, including the last two over the Fliers and No. 2 St. Thomas More (36-30). And the Bulldogs have relied on their defense to secure the last two Class A wins. 

The Bulldogs shot 3 of 24 from the 3-point line against the Fliers, while they went 3 of 20 from deep against the Cavaliers. 

But they’ve overcome the sluggish shooting nights with strong defensive efforts. 

“We just have to go out there and get every rebound and play as hard as defense as you can and the shots will start to fall,” De Smet guard Kalen Garry said. “Obviously the last two big games our shots are falling, but we will get them going.”

De Smet's Kalen Garry attacks the basket against Flandreau on Tuesday in De Smet. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Garry led all scorers with 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Tory Holland and Damon Wilkinson scored 11 points apiece. Wilkinson also grabbed eight boards.

Flandreau (13-3) was led by Tash Lunday with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Liam Streitz added 11 points and eight rebounds. 

The Fliers, led by 6-foot-6 Chase LeBrun and 6-foot-5 Lunday, matched up well with De Smet’s size. The Bulldogs countered with the 6-foot-9 Wilkinson, along with Garry (6-foot-3) and Holland (6-foot-2). 

“Lunday and LeBrun are such great scorers and they are big kids,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “It’s hard to keep them guarded. We were trying to sag a little bit. They were sagging a little bit trying to stop Damon.” 

Flandreau's Tash Lunday (30) goes up for a shot against De Smet on Tuesday in De Smet. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

The Bulldogs and Fliers traded baskets through the first 16 minutes, which featured six ties and six lead changes. Flandreau held its biggest lead, 13-9, early in the second quarter.

But De Smet went into halftime with a 20-19 halftime advantage. That’s when the Bulldogs seized control. 

“Walking into the locker room with a one-point lead doesn't really feel good to us,” Holland said. “We talked about what we need to do and what things we can improve.” 

In the third quarter, De Smet went on a 14-4 run and Gruenhagen said it started with defense. De Smet sealed the game with a 12-9 margin in the fourth quarter. 

“In the third quarter, we got our hands on some passes,” Gruenhagen said. “We got our hands on some rebounds and they were getting a lot of offensive boards and putting it back. I think tipping balls on defense and everybody just getting in the passing lanes really turned it around.”

Holland, who added five rebounds and three steals, sparked the defensive effort. 

“Nobody will outwork that kid,” Garry said. “He’s a menace. If he has to get a rebound, if he has to dive on the floor for a ball — that kid will do anything for the team. He’s just a great player.”

Holland, who is regularly running after 50/50 balls and fighting for rebounds, said he’s just filling his role on the team. 

“I know I am not Kalen Garry and I don’t have the height of Damon Wilkinson,” Holland said. “So I improve on what I can and I work as hard as I can.”

De Smet senior guard Rett Osthus finished with three points and three assists, but the 6-foot-1 defensive specialist defended Lunday for most of the night. Osthus was also instrumental in De Smet committing only four turnovers. 

De Smet hosts Wolsey-Wessington on Thursday in its home finale. Flandreau plays at Clark/Willow Lake on Saturday.