MITCHELL Two of the most-talented rosters in South Dakota basketball squared off at the Corn Palace in Mitchell Tuesday and a defensive contest broke out, with the Huron Tigers doing what they needed to do to come away with a 47-38 victory over the second-ranked, defending champion Mitchell Kernels.
Huron got the opening tip and worked the offense until Colton McNeil was able to get a reverse layup. Then both teams went silent for three minutes until McNeil was able to get a layup after the Mitchell defense left him open following a missed steal attempt.
Colton Smith backed in on Trace Wenz and scored the first bucket for Mitchell. The next trip down, Markus Talley had a quick release in the lane as Blake Ellwein was closing in defensively and Talley followed that up with a steal to cap a 6-0 Mitchell run for a 6-4 lead – what would be the only Mitchell lead of the game.
McNeil continued a strong opening quarter with a three from the top of the key and Ellwein pulled up from deep for another three to make it 10-6 Huron, and that would be the score at the quarter break.
After a pair of scoreless trips for each team, Davis Chase denied Gavin Hinker with a strong block at the hoop and in transition, Chase got the ball. Hinker slammed Chase to the ground, surprisingly receiving only a traditional foul as Chases head bounced on the court. Chase missed a pair of free throws, still woozy from the play.
Smith was able to post up a smaller Tiger again, getting a bucket over McNeil. Wenz responded with a drive to the hoop and made a pair of foul shots to make it 12-8.
Smith got Chase up in the air and got a controversial and one opportunity, but he missed the free throw.
Ellwein answered with a side step at the top of the key, nailing a three to make it 15-10.
Hinker got a pair of free throws and Smith got a put back to get within one.
Ellwein got into the lane and got a short basket and Hinker was able to get a reverse layup.
Neither team was able to score in the final two minutes of the half, sending the teams to the locker room with Huron ahead 17-16.
The Tigers opened the second half with strong team defense and McNeil streaked for a layup after a steal. Smith was able to make a post move to close the game to 19-18, but Wenz responded with a putback bucket.
Anderson Porisch streaked to the hoop and was fed by Ellwein for an easy two. Talley responded with a high-arching runner over Ellwein but Wenz then got a bucket and was fouled. His free throw made it 26-20.
Smith and Chase exchanged putback baskets, then each was fouled, with Smith hitting one foul shot and Chase knocking down both.
Kolby Hofer then spotted up for a deep three to give the Tigers a 10-point lead.
Collin Weier was fouled and made a pair of free throws and Chase closed with a free throw to send the game to the final period with Huron ahead 34-25.
Owen Raml stepped up for Mitchell to open the fourth quarter, scoring all five points as the Kernels opened the final frame on a 5-2 run. Wenz ended the run, scoring on a nice give-and-go with Bubba Peterson and McNeil nailed a three in the corner to put Huron up 41-30.
Talley attacked both Ellwein and Chase in the middle with a high-arching bucket in the lane, but McNeil got a transition layup.
The game then devolved into a free throw contest as both teams were in the bonus, and Mitchell simply couldnt get anything going offensively, and Huron came away with the 47-38 victory.
Huron moves to 5-2 with McNeil pacing the scoring with 14 points. Ellwein added 12 and Wenz chipped in nine.
Ellwein had six rebounds, while Chase recorded five blocks on the game.
Mitchell fell to 6-2. Smith led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Talley had eight points.
Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen was elated with the way his team played together as the team is coming together on both sides of the ball.
We all understood the game plan tonight. It wasnt pretty on offense, but they kept up the defensive effort even when the shots werent falling, Buddenhagen remarked. This is a huge step for us.
The Tigers won the junior varsity game, 55-50, but lost the sophomore game, 70-47.
Huron will host top-ranked and undefeated Sioux Falls Lincoln Friday.
Huron 10 17 34 47
Mitchell 6 16 25 38
Huron (5-2): Trace Wenz 3 3-3 9, Colton McNeil 6 0-0 14, Kolby Hofer 1 0-0 3, Blake Ellwein 3 4-6 12, Anderson Porisch 1 2-6 4, Davis Chase 1 3-6 5. Totals: 15 12-21 47.
Mitchell (6-2): Colton Smith 6 5-9 17, Markus Talley 4 0-0 8, Collin Weier 0 2-2 2, Owen Raml 2 1-2 5, Gavin Hinker 2 2-2 6. Totals: 14 10-15 38.
FG: H – 15/40 38%; M – 14/46 30%. 3-pt FG: H – 5/17 (McNeil 2, Ellwein 2, Hofer); M – 0/14. Rebounds: H 21 (Ellwein 6), M 30 (Smith 10). Assists: H 7 (Porisch 3), M 5 (Talley 2). Steals: H 3, M 4 (Hinker 2). Blocks: H 5 (Chase 5), M 2 (Smith 2). Turnovers: H 8, M 15. Fouls: H 15, M 20 (Raml out).
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