HURON The Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots picked up their first win on Tuesday, but the Huron Tigers ensured there wouldnt be a streak, defeating Lincoln 54-32 Thursday at Huron Arena in a make-up game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 12.
The two teams looked like they may be ready for a shootout, as Ciara Velasquez hit a three for Lincoln in their first possession and Hylton Heinz drove in and hit a floater in the lane on Hurons first possession.
However, anyone expecting a high-scoring affair was quickly disappointed. The Huron press forced the inexperienced Patriots to play out of system and the Tigers struggled to get passes through the Lincoln defense as it switched from man to multiple zone looks.
When the Tigers did get an open shot, often very near the hoop, things didnt fall.
Hamtyn Heinz nailed a three from the top of the key and Elizabeth Heinen hit a left hand scoop shot in the lane to give Huron a 7-3 lead.
Lincolns Jerzi Kool came off the bench to hit a long jumper, but Hamtyn responded for Huron with her second three in the first quarter with three minutes remaining in the period.
Hamtyn Heinz hit one of two free throws to make it 11-5 after being fouled on the ensuing inbounds, but the Tigers would really hit a drought after that.
Hylton Heinz missed a pair of free throws among a host of missed shots for Huron. Lincoln didnt do a lot better but did get the final point of the first as Kierra Lubovich hit one of two free throws. The first quarter ended with the Tigers leading 11-6.
Lubovich hit one of two free throws on the first possession of the second quarter for Lincoln, but then both teams went on an extended run of no scoring.
Hamtyn Heinz hit a straight-away three to end Hurons drought with more than five and a half minutes of scoreless basketball for the Tigers, giving Huron a 14-7 lead.
Hamtyn quickly added another three after a Huron steal to give Huron a 10-point lead.
Faith Kpeayeh made a layup as the Patriots broke the press and Huron responded by finding Heinen wide open underneath for a lay in, making it 19-9.
Neither team would then score for four minutes of game time until Hamtyn Heinz drove to the hoop and was fouled, nailing a pair of free throws. Kpeayeh banked in a three for Lincoln, but as the first half buzzer sounded, a three from Hylton Heinz fell through the net, sending Huron to the break with a 24-12 lead.
The Patriots opened the second half the same way they did the first half, with a Velasquez three. Huron hit Heinen down low twice for short baskets and a 28-17 lead.
Right away in the third, different results seemed to give the Huron girls more confidence, but Huron coach Kody Kopfmann saw the team working hard in the first half despite the struggles shooting.
We missed shots early, but we never lost confidence in ourselves, Kopfmann said. Our defense played well in the first half and then the shots started falling in the second half.
Kpeayeh drove to the hoop for a layup for Lincoln, but Huron hustled on the offensive boards, and after three offensive rebounds, Hylton Heinz hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to 30-19.
Hamtyn Heinz hit a layup and was fouled after a steal, hitting the free throw, then Hylton Heinz made a pair of free throws on the next possession to make it a 16-point lead at 35-19.
Lincoln would get seven in the third from Lubovich and five from Kpeayeh, but could not get consistent offense going, as Huron maintained a 16-point lead heading into the fourth, 43-27.
Huron played smart with the ball to wear off time in the final period on each possession, pushing the lead to 20 early as Hylton Heinz hit a three and then drove to the cup from the top of the key to push the Tiger margin to 48-27.
Both teams would empty benches from that point, with Huron dribbling out the final seconds for a 54-32 win.
The Tigers move to 7-10 behind 21 points from Hamtyn Heinz. Hylton Heinz put in 14 with five assists. Heinen added nine points and six rebounds.
Kopfmann was pleased with the all-around effort from the team after challenging the team.
We executed really, really well, and it was nice to see, he raved. I challenged the seniors after the Aberdeen game, and they stepped up to that challenge. Now we get to focus on Watertown tomorrow night.
The Patriots fall to 1-17. Kpeayeh led the Patriots with 10 points, and Lubovich had nine.
Huron won both lower level games, taking the junior varsity game 52-44 and the C game 60-27.
The Tigers will travel tonight for a rematch with Watertown after defeating the Arrows 54-45 on Jan. 23.
Sioux Falls Lincoln 6 12 27 32
Huron 11 24 43 54
Sioux Falls Lincoln (1-17): Jerzi Kool 2 0-0 5, Ciara Velasquez 2 0-0 6, Faith Kpeayeh 4 0-0 10, Kierra Lubovich 3 2-6 9, Achalla Akway 1 0-1 2. Totals: 12 2-7 32.
Huron (7-10): Allison Janes 1 0-0 3, Aly Davis 1 1-2 3, Hylton Heinz 4 4-6 14, Hamtyn Heinz 6 4-5 21, Elizabeth Heinen 4 1-2 9, Jaylee Noyes 1 1-2 4. Totals: 17 11-17 54.
FG: SFL – 12/37 32%; H – 17/41 42%. 3-pt FG: SFL 6/20 (Velasquez 2, Kpeayeh 2, Lubovich, Kool); H 9/21 (HaHeinz 5, HyHeinz 2, Janes, Noyes). Rebounds: SFL 25 (Thuch, Lubovich 4), H 31 (Heinen 6). Assists: SFL 2, H 13 (HyHeinz 5). Steals: SFL 1, H 12 (HyHeinz, HaHeinz 4). Turnovers: SFL 16, H 7. Fouls: SFL 12, H 9.
Leave a Reply