HURON The Huron Tigers traveled to play the Brandon Valley Lynx, fresh off the Lynx snapping a 12-game winning streak Tuesday against top-ranked Mitchell. The Lynx got back to their winning ways with a resounding 64-43 victory Thursday over the Tigers in Brandon.
The Lynx, ranked third in the most recent Class AA poll, move to 15-4 with the win. The Tigers fall to 12-8.
The first possession for each team really set the tone for the first half. The Lynx got the tip and worked the ball around the offense until big man Josh Olthoff sealed off his defender for an easy layup and the first points of the game.
On the ensuing possession for Huron, three different players took four shots at the hoop…and came away empty, an issue that would plague the Tigers in the first half.
CJ Gainey took a pass from Gavin Moeding after a long rebound sparked the Huron transition to knot the score 2-2.
Olthoff found Landon Dulaney cutting to the hoop on the ensuing possession to keep Brandon on top 4-2.
Olthoff had a turn around hook shot fall, then Bergen Irey sandwiched a Huron three from Blake Ellwein with two long-range shots of his own, leaving the Lynx with a 12-5 lead with five minutes remaining in the first.
Ellwein was able to get a put back basket, but Olthoff immediately answered with a shot in the lane and then with 1:25 left in the first, Hayden Anderson made a post move for a Lynx basket.
Aiden Zerr got a layup in transition for Brandon before Carsen Evans made a backdoor cut for a Huron layup, sending the game to the second quarter with an 18-9 Brandon Valley lead.
Anderson Porisch opened scoring in the second quarter with a pull-up jumper for Huron, but a free throw for Zerr, a free-throw line jumper for Briggs Knutson, and a strong move underneath by Olthoff made it a 23-11 Lynx lead quickly into the second period.
Evans stopped the Brandon run with a three, but Zerr got a backdoor pass from Olthoff for a bucket and then Olthoff was able to get a dunk to make it 27-14 with 2:50 left.
Both teams then went dry for an extended period before Evans got a pass from Ellwein for a bucket.
Olthoff got the ball for a layup at the end of the first half and was fouled. He made the extra shot for a 30-16 lead going into half.
Huron was 7/32 shooting in the first half for a cold 22 percent.
The Lynx quickly went back to 68 big man Olthoff to open the second half and he made the shot and earned a free throw, which he sank.
Zerr went in after a steal for a layup and Anderson got a layup in transition.
After a Huron timeout, the Tigers turned the ball over and Dulaney got a baseline cut for a 39-16 lead.
Evans stopped the Lynx run to open the half with a three, the Zerr responded with a three of his own for Brandon.
Ellwein got a put back bucket, but Brayden Miller worked the baseline and was fouled on a made shot, making the free throw. Irey got a layup and Zerr made a baseline cut to give the Lynx a 49-21 lead with 90 seconds left in the third.
Evans hit back-to-back threes, but Anderson answered with a turnaround shot to send the game into the final period with the Lynx up 51-27.
Olthoff got a bucket underneath to open the final frame and Anderson got a putback.
Gainey finally began to hit shots in the fourth quarter, but the Lynx continued to add to their tally as well and both teams emptied benches with 3:07 left on the way to a 64-43 win.
The Lynx put three players in double-figure scoring, led by Olthoffs 18 points. Zerr added 14 points and Anderson bucketed 12 points.
Evans came off the bench to hit four three-point baskets as part of his 16 points to lead the Tigers. Gainey added 10 poings, eight coming in the final period.
Tigers coach Tim Buddenhagen had a simple explanation for the loss and was looking ahead.
We just could never stop their momentum tonight, Buddenhagen said. Everything we want is still in front of us. We control our own destiny.
The Tigers boys are back on the court March 2 for a SoDak 16 game.
Huron 9 16 27 43
Brandon Valley 18 30 51 64
Huron (12-8): Colton McNeil 1 0-0 3, Kolton Ogle 2 0-0 5, CJ Gainey 4 0-0 10, Blake Ellwein 3 0-0 7, Anderson Porisch 1 0-0 2, Carsen Evans 6 0-0 16. Totals: 17 0-0 43.
Brandon Valley (15-4): Briggs Knutson 1 0-0 2, Landon Dulaney 2 0-0 4, Aiden Zerr 6 1-2 14, Bergen Irey 3 0-0 8, Brayden Miller 1 1-1 3, Ryland Carroll 1 0-0 3, Hayden Anderson 5 2-2 12, Josh Olthoff 8 2-2 18. Totals: 27 6-7 64.
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