FORT PIERRE — Temperatures might have been frigid outside of Parkview Gym Monday evening but the wind chill was not much colder than the Stanley County offense inside.

The Lady Buff hope of advancing to the Southern Plains tournament championship game for the fourth straight year was blasted by White River 72-40 in a semifinal game that was delayed three days by bad weather. After scoring their season high in points in the 64-48 tournament opener, Stanley County tied their season-low for points.

Turnovers was the most glaring weakness for the defending champions. White River took advantage of 38 turnovers, 27 in the second half. That was the most by the team since they made 39 against Cheyenne-Eagle Butte on Oct. 16, 1977. They are averaging 24 per game.

Josh Linehan | Capital Journal White River’s Maci Gillen blocks the shot of Stanley County’s Brandi Prince during their game Monday night at Parkview Gym in Fort Pierre. The Lady Tigers won, 72-40. Advertisement

Sara Sweetman scored the first basket of the game but the Lady Tigers would take the lead by scoring 11 unanswered points. Caitlin Whiting had back-to-back steals off inbounds plays to score twice and assist on a third to fuel the run.

Tori Deal’s three-pointer with 3:34 left in the first half cut White River’s lead to six at 21-15. But the Lady Tigers would take a 10-point lead into halftime after missing only one shot in the second quarter.

The Lady Buffs went 2-of-10 from the field in the third quarter with 15 turnovers as White River outscored them 25-6.

Whiting led all scorers with 22 points, 16 in the second half. That is the most by an opposing player this year. Brandi Prince was the only double figure scorer for the Lady Buffs with 13.

The Southern Plains finals round is unclear as the southern bracket semifinals have not yet been played. White River will play the winner of South Central-Lyman game with the Lady Buffs taking on the loser for third place.

Now 4-6, the Stanley County girls next scheduled game is Thursday when they host Winner at Parkview Gym.

White River 13 28 53 72

Stanley County 6 18 24 40

White River scoring: Caitlin Whiting 10 2-5 22, Kaylee Spotted Elk 2 2-4 6, Maci Gillen 3 6-8 12, Shelby Horsley 2 3-4 8, Shandra Stromer 0 1-4 1, Brittney Piper 2 2-4 6, Ashlyn Plooster 2 4-4 9, Marisa Medicine Bear 3 0-0 6, Lene Wright 0 2-2 2, Raven Whiting 0 0-2 0. Totals: 24 22-37 72.

Stanley County scoring: Brandi Prince 4 4-4 13, Sara Sweetman 2 0-2 4, Tori Deal 1 0-2 3, Haley Hand 3 0-1 6, Julia Fiddler 2 1-2 5, Tara Russell 2 0-3 4, Amanda Lounsbury 1 0-1 2, Allison Reiman 0 0-1 0. Nicole Smith 1 0-0 3. Totals: 16 5-15 40.

Team statistics: 3-pointers—Horsley, Plooster, Prince, Deal, Smith; FG percent—WR 48 (24-of-50), SC 28.6 (16-of-56); Rebounds—WR 31 (Gillen 8, Spotted Elk 6), SC 26 (S. Sweetman 5); Turnovers—WR 29, SC 38; Total fouls—WR 21, SC 28 (Kendra Karst, Kelly Sweetman out).