HURON The Huron Tigers built a big lead and needed every bit of it as the lead evaporated, requiring a big defensive play at the end of the game to seal a 43-39 victory for Huron over the Tea Area Titans Friday at the Huron Arena.
The defensive pressure from Tea Area initially was a struggle for the Tigers. Anna Binde opened scoring in the game with a three-ball, then after a turnover for a 10-second call, Ellie Clayberg cut through the defense for a bucket, giving the Titans a quick 5-0 lead.
Hurons defense clamped down, as Hylton Heinz found her way in for Hurons first bucket, and the next possession, Allison Janes hit a baseline jumper to get within 5-4.
Clayberg cut across the lane for a bucket and Heinz answered by getting a putback bucket and hitting the foul shot after she was hacked on the shot.
A Tatym Slykhuis free throw gave the Titans back the lead, but Janes was fouled and hit two shots to give the Tigers the edge at 9-8.
Binde hit her second three of the game to give Tea Area an 11-9 lead, but Janes shook free and hit a runner to knot the score with thirty seconds left, sending the game to the second period with an 11-11 score.
Hurons defense was stellar in the second quarter. Heinz got a bucket on a drive through the teeth of the Titan defense and then hit a three in transition. Neither team would then score for nearly three minutes.
Binde hit a jumper in the lane, but Chloe Carr answered right back with a bucket and a foul shot to push the lead out to 19-13.
Rylee Hammerquist got a bucket, but that was it for Tea Area as a free throw from Heinz and a kick out three by Hailey Rogers finished the scoring for the half, with Huron holding a 23-15 lead at the break.
Huron got a bucket from Abagail Harrington after an offensive rebound to open the second half, pushing the lead out to ten at 25-15. Clayberg hit a bucket to make it 25-21, but then Huron went on a 14-5 run to end the quarter, building up a 13-point lead at the end of the third, 39-26.
Neither team could score to open the fourth quarter until Kya Haynes hit a three with 4:20 left in the game for Tea Area. The Titans would score the next 10 points as Huron struggled with the Titan press and with their own ball-handling. A three from Jaycie Babb made it 39-39 with a little over a minute remaining.
Hylton Heinz drove hard to the basket, hitting the shot and drawing a foul, putting Huron into the bonus the rest of the game and giving Huron a 41-39 lead after Heinz missed the free throw.
After a strong defensive stand, Janes was fouled and hit a pair of free throws. Heinz blocked a last-gasp attempt to seal a 43-39 victory.
Huron coach Kody Kopfmann was impressed with the Titans effort in the end but saw a big reason why it happened.
Credit to Tea Area. They turned us over and they hit some big shots, Kopfmann observed. Weve got to do a better job of getting more shots. We shot the ball fairly efficiently when we got a shot up.
Huron moves to 2-0 behind 16 points from Heinz and 10 points from Janes. Hailey Rogers came up big with two three-point baskets for six points.
The Titans (1-1) got 11 points from Binde and nine from Clayberg in a balanced attack.
Huron will host Brookings on Tuesday.
Kopfmann was pleased with the effort of his team, hoping they can keep up the energy and fight.
The girls dont hang their heads. They keep fighting. We saw that again tonight, Kopfmann said. Brookings will return all their production from last year, so were going to have to step up Tuesday.
Tea Area 11 15 26 39
Huron 11 23 39 43
Tea Area (1-1): Jaycie Babb 1 1-2 4, Anna Binde 4 1-2 11, Tatym Slykhuis 0 1-2 1, Ellie Clayberg 3 2-2 9, Kya Haynes 1 0-0 3, Reese Hammerquist 1 2-2 4, Emma Lingren 3 0-0 7. Totals: 13 7-10 39.
Huron (2-0): Hailey Rogers 2 0-0 6, Allison Janes 3 4-4 10, Aly Davis 1 0-0 2, Hylton Heinz 5 5-8 16, Abagail Harrington 2 0-0 4, Addyson Knight 0 2-2 2, Chloe Carr 1 1-1 3. Totals: 14 12-15 43.
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