RAPID CITY After scoring 28 points in the entire first half, the Huron Tigers put up 27 points in the third quarter alone as the Tigers came back for a 75-66 victory over the Rapid City Cobblers Friday in Rapid City.
Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen warned about the Cobblers speed before the game, and right away, that speed was an issue for the Tigers as quick senior guard Gilbert White Jr. of the Cobblers got a bucket on a putback to open scoring in the game.
Fresh off a career-high 20 points Tuesday for the Tigers, Trace Wenz got Huron on the board with a move through the lane for a short jumper. Colt McNeil released on a rebound and got a layup to make it 4-2.
Blake Ellwein got a layup off a steal and then drove the lane and got the hoop and the harm. Jonathan Peterson cut backdoor for a layup for a quick 11-2 lead, drawing a Cobbler timeout.
The Cobblers leaned on White, who immediately drove at Ellwein, drawing Blakes second foul and hitting a pair of free throws. He then attacked the rim again and got a layup to bring it within 11-6.
Davis Chase, sophomore 67 center transfer from James Valley Christian, got his first action of the season and put in his first bucket with a reverse layup on a post move to make it 13-6.
A pair of free throws for Logan Leyendecker of Huron and one-of-two from the line for Rapids Junior Allen brought the first quarter to a close with Huron up 17-13.
The fouls began to really mount in the second quarter, and Ellwein would pick up his third foul early, missing most of the quarter.
White sparked an 8-2 run to open the second quarter before he picked up his third foul and sat the rest of the quarter.
Huron struggled with ball movement on offense with Ellwein on the bench, allowing Central to make an 8-3 run.
A Chase putback ended the run, but the Cobblers continued to attack the hoop. A strong move at the end of the half by Ellwein brought the Tigers within 35-28 at the break.
Buddenhagen saw the growing pains for his team without their leading scorer and adding in a new cog to the rotation.
I really liked how we played in the first quarter, then the fouls got us, Buddenhagen observed. It just took us some time to get to know each other and work out how we were going to work together with a new guy in the lineup and Blake out of the lineup.
Whatever Buddenhage told his troops at half should be bottled for future offensive slowdowns as the Tigers came out attacking and moving quickly on offense and defense in the second half. Anderson Porisch and Trace Wenz attacked the hoop, both earning free throws.
White was fouled on a three, but then McNeil made a bucket and got one of two from the charity stripe on a drive the next time down the court. White and Ellwein traded buckets and McNeil released after a rebound again for a layup to make it 43-38 Cobblers.
Allen got a bucket and a pair of free throws to push the lead out to 47-38, but McNeil continued a strong third quarter with his second three of the game.
After a slash to the lane by White made it 49-42, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run, capped by a big dunk from Chase that gave Huron its first lead since early in the second quarter at 50-49.
A three from Allen and a free throw from White made it 53-50 Central, but Ellwein got a hoop and the harm to knot the score.
Peterson and Ellwein each hit one of two free throws to make it 55-53 Huron heading into the fourth frame.
White and Ellwein opened the final period dominating the game like two elite scorers can do, trading buckets to 59-57.
Allen and Weiland Benbo got back to back buckets to put the Cobblers back on top, but that would be the last time the Tigers would trail on the night.
Though Porisch went out during the Tigers run to take the lead in the third quarter, the team began to find their roles, as four different Tigers scored, including another Chase dunk, as Huron went on an 8-0 run to take a 68-61 lead.
Huron hit free throws and continued to push the tempo with players releasing on rebounds for layups, and they secured a 75-66 victory.
Huron moves to 2-1 behind 27 points from Ellwein, including 13 of 15 from the free throw line. McNeil added 20 points and Chase had nine points.
White had 32 points to lead all scorers for Central, now 1-2.
Huron 17 28 55 75
Central 13 35 53 66
Huron (2-1): Trace Wenz 3 1-2 8, Colton McNeil 8 2-4 20, Logan Leyendecker 0 2-2 2, Jonathan Peterson 1 1-2 3, Blake Ellwein 7 13-15 27, Anderson Porisch 3 0-2 6, Davis Chase 4 1-2 9. Totals: 26 20-29 75.
Rapid City Central (1-2): Junior Allen 4 5-10 14, Preston Yellow 1 1-2 4, Kaden Mathieu 2 1-2 7, Gilbert White Jr 9 12-14 32, Julius Duran 1 0-0 3, Weiland Benbo 1 2-2 4, Braedon Isler 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 21-30 66.
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