MITCHELL — The Pierre Lady Govs have had a lot of success the last few years. Much of it, particulary in the District 3AA playoffs, came at the expense of the Mitchell Kernels.

Thursday night, the Kernels began to even out the score.

With 16 points from the senior Taylor Piper and 13 points from freshman Kerri Young, Mitchell defeated Pierre in the District 3AA elimination game Thursday at the Corn Palace, 41-33.

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It was the Kernels’ first postseason win since 2005 and marks the first time in four years the Lady Govs will miss the AA state tournament.

“We’re not done yet,” Kernels’ coach Wes Morgan said. “The ball is still rolling, and we’re going to take a road trip.”

With one more win in Saturday’s region play-in game, the Kernels will make their first state tournament appearance since 2005. Mitchell will play the loser of tonight’s District 4AA championship between the Rapid City schools, Stevens and Central.

Throughout the day leading up to game time, Piper said she was asked whether or not she was nervous, considering the game against Pierre could be her last.

Piper said the thought never crossed her mind.

“It’s nice being part of something to help bring this program around,” Piper said of the now nine-win Kernels. “But it’s not complete, because the goal is to go to state.”

Despite Piper’s play, Pierre’s Paige Burkett tried her best make the Kernels’ postseason misery last at least one more year.

The Governors had pulled within three with a little under three minutes to play and looked to take control of the momentum.

Burkett scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter and knocked down both free throws with 2:44 left to pull her team within three at 34-31.

“She played her heart out tonight,” Governors’ coach Lisa Kannegieter said. “I don’t think she came off the court once.

“She took the team on her shoulders and carried the team.”

She couldn’t do it herself, though.

Young hit a jumper near the free-throw line and Piper drained five of six free throws with less than a minute to play, sending the Kernels West River for the state play-in game.

“This is just one step,” Piper said. “It feels good that it’s happening with this team.

“We’ve been working together all summer long and we’ve been talking about state.”

Pierre’s Kaitlyn Severyn hit a bucket with the foul to open the game but failed to covert the three-point play. The Governors’ lead held until midway through the first when Mitchell went on an 8-0 run sparked by steals and fast-break points.

Neither team did much in the second.

Pierre got a 3-pointer from Katie Lundemann for her only shot of the game with about three minutes left in the half, pulling the Governors to one at 11-10.

Young answered with a 3-pointer and another freshman, Kristin Sabers, scored from inside with 20 seconds to go to extend Mitchell’s lead at end the half at 16-10.

“Mitchell’s lead stayed in the single digits throughout the entire game and held a six-point lead on a 3-pointer by Piper when the Kernels were up, 23-16.

“We talked to Piper about being more offensive minded,” Morgan said.

“She got to the basket a couple of times and hit that nice little jumper. Her free throws down the stretch were huge for us.”

Added Kannegieter: “She was one of the difference makers. She looked to attack a lot more than what we watched on tape their last two games. She was a lot more active than what she has been.”

Sabers’ inside bucket put Mitchell up by nine late in the third, but Burkett and Pierre did everything they could to come back.

The Governors’ run to get them within three started in the beginning of the fourth.

Point guard Amanda Stout, who was injured last time the two teams played, hit a base-line jumper and Burkett scored six straight points for Pierre.

“We just came up short where we couldn’t make a shot here or there, and we didn’t make free throws,” Kannegieter said. “That’s the difference of the game.”

The Kernels held Pierre to 29 percent from the field and watched the Governors knock down 7 of 10 free throws.

Mitchell hit 50 percent from the field in the second half and 39 percent in the game.

The Lady Govs finish the season 6-16, having lost their final nine games of the season.

MITCHELL 41, PIERRE 33

Pierre (6-16)

Amanda Stout 1-2 0-0 2, Katie Lundemann 1-1 0-0 3, Amber Olson 2-9 0-8 4, Paige Burkett 3-16 5-6 17, Kaitlen Severyn 2-8 0-3 5, Micah Palmer 0-0 0-0 0, Jordyn Anderson 0-4 0-0 0, Taylor Hyde 0-0 0-0 0, Molly Tschetter 0-2 1-2 1, Nikki Anderson 0-3 1-4 1. Totals: 12-42 7-17 33.

Mitchell (9-13)

Kerri Young 6-9 0-0 13, Kristin Sabers 2-12 1-2 5, Taylor Piper 5-11 5-6 16, Charlee Nelson 12-5 0-0 2, Courtney Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Macy Miller 1-1 0-0 2, Megan Farnham 0-1 1-2 1, Natalie Roth 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 16-41 7-10 41.

PHS.................... 5 10 22 33

MHS.................. 11 16 29 41

3-Pointers — PHS 2-7 (Lundemann and Severyn), MHS 2-7 (Young and Piper). Rebounds — PHS 23 (Severyn 5), MHS 34 (Piper 8). Turnovers — PHS 14, MHS 15.