Freeman Flyers Advance to Class B Title Game After Thrilling Comeback

The No. 2 seed Flyers rallied from 7 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 6 Wall and reach their first state championship game in over 25 years.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:39am

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The Freeman Flyers overcame a 59-52 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to defeat the Wall Eagles 74-70 in a thrilling Class B boys basketball semifinal game. The Flyers went on a 10-0 run to take the lead and held off a late Wall rally to secure the victory and advance to the state title game for the first time in over 25 years.

Why it matters

This comeback win showcases the resilience and determination of the Freeman Flyers, who have now won 21 straight games dating back to January. Reaching the state championship game is a major milestone for the program and the community of Freeman, South Dakota.

The details

The Flyers trailed 59-52 heading into the fourth quarter, but quickly erased the deficit with a 10-0 run to take the lead. Wall briefly regained the lead at 65-64 with under 4 minutes to play, but the Flyers responded with a layup from Tayden Kerrigan and a steal and fast break layup from Luke Peters to go up 68-65. Freeman then made key free throws down the stretch to seal the 74-70 victory.

  • The Flyers trailed 59-52 to start the fourth quarter.
  • Freeman went on a 10-0 run to take the lead early in the fourth quarter.
  • Wall briefly regained the lead at 65-64 with under 4 minutes remaining.
  • Tayden Kerrigan and Luke Peters made key plays in the final 3 minutes to put Freeman up for good.
  • The Flyers hit free throws in the final minute to clinch the 74-70 win.

The players

Freeman Flyers

The No. 2 seed boys basketball team from Freeman, South Dakota that rallied to defeat Wall and advance to the Class B state championship game.

Wall Eagles

The No. 6 seed boys basketball team from Wall, South Dakota that led for much of the semifinal game before falling to Freeman in the fourth quarter.

Lance Friesen

The head coach of the Freeman Flyers who guided his team to the thrilling comeback victory.

David Walter

The Freeman Flyers player who recorded a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double in the semifinal win.

Luke Peters

The Freeman Flyers player who made a key steal and fast break layup in the final minutes to help secure the victory.

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What they’re saying

“Remarkable. I'm clearly biased to games we participate in, but it sure felt like a heck of a game.”

— Lance Friesen, Head Coach, Freeman Flyers

“It was back-and-forth the whole game. They hit some tough shots. We hit some tough shots, and in the end, we battled through and we got it done.”

— David Walter, Player, Freeman Flyers

“They like to get out and run, but I feel like we do, too. I felt we matched up really well with them.”

— Luke Peters, Player, Freeman Flyers

What’s next

The Freeman Flyers will face defending champion Castlewood in the Class B state title game on Saturday night at 6:45 PM.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory showcases the Flyers' resilience and determination, as they rallied from a 7-point fourth quarter deficit to reach their first state championship game in over 25 years. Freeman's ability to match Wall's fast-paced style and make key plays down the stretch proved to be the difference in this instant classic semifinal matchup.