Lincoln boys basketball tops Roosevelt again with defense and shooting

The Patriots buried 11 3-pointers to defeat the Rough Riders 59-47 in a battle of Sioux Falls' top teams.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Sioux Falls Lincoln boys basketball team led wire-to-wire in a 59-47 win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Tuesday, thanks to a strong defensive effort and hot shooting, especially from Sam Ericsson who hit five 3-pointers. Lincoln built an early lead and held off a Roosevelt comeback attempt in the second half to secure the victory between the two top teams in the city.

Why it matters

This game featured a matchup between the two best boys basketball teams in Sioux Falls, with Lincoln and Roosevelt both having strong seasons. Lincoln's ability to win this high-profile game on their home court shows their talent and resilience, as they continue to prove themselves as one of the top teams in the state.

The details

Lincoln jumped out to an early 20-7 lead after the first quarter, burying 3-pointers from Brody Schafer, Owen Duffy, and Sam DeGroot. Roosevelt started to make a comeback in the third quarter, but Duffy hit a big 3-pointer to push the Patriots' lead back to double digits. In the fourth quarter, Sam Ericsson hit two more 3-pointers, including one while fading away and contested, to seal the win for Lincoln. The Patriots' defense also played a key role, holding Roosevelt star Memphis Bylander to just 6 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • Lincoln led 20-7 after the first quarter.

The players

Owen Duffy

A Lincoln player who hit a key 3-pointer in the third quarter to help the Patriots maintain their lead.

Sam DeGroot

A Lincoln player who assisted on Duffy's 3-pointer in the third quarter.

Sam Ericsson

A Lincoln player who hit five 3-pointers, including two big ones in the fourth quarter, to help seal the win for the Patriots.

Memphis Bylander

The star player for Roosevelt who was held to just 6 points on 3-of-11 shooting, largely due to the defensive effort of Lincoln's Owen Duffy.

Luke Hannemann

The head coach of the Lincoln boys basketball team, who was proud of his team's defensive effort and ability to hit big shots when needed.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't expect that one to go in.”

— Owen Duffy (argusleader.com)

“I tend to come alive when we need it most, and I'm going to keep going with that. I feed off of energy and I try not to get in my head about it and keep on firing because I know the next one's going in.”

— Sam Ericsson (argusleader.com)

“He's an excellent shooter and we're really blessed to have him on our basketball team. It really, really helps when he hits those big shots. It's very deflating for the other team and we're just happy that he's on our team.”

— Luke Hannemann, Lincoln head coach (argusleader.com)

What’s next

Lincoln will look to continue their strong season and remain unbeaten when they take on another top team in the state on Friday, February 21st.

The takeaway

Lincoln's ability to win this high-profile matchup against their crosstown rival Roosevelt demonstrates the Patriots' talent, resilience, and commitment to playing strong defense and hitting timely shots, which will serve them well as they aim to make a deep run in the state tournament.