HURON In a game that ended the first three breaks with both teams tied, the Huron Tigers scored the final eight points of the game to come away with a 37-31 victory Saturday afternoon at Huron Arena.
Whether it was the wear and tear of a quick turnaround on Saturday afternoon after a Friday evening game or the strong press defense each team employed, both teams struggled throughout the first half.
Hylton Heinz nailed a three to open the game, and that would end up tied for the largest lead either team would enjoy the entire first half.
Avreigh Long drove hard into the lane and was fouled, hitting two free throws. Tori Williams slipped through the defense to get an offensive rebound and a putback to give the Scoopers a 4-3 lead.
On the ensuing offensive possession for the Tigers, Heinz picked up her second offensive foul and had to head to the bench for half of the first quarter.
Aly Davis would get fouled on Hurons third attempt at the basket, making one of two to knot the score at four, but Kierra Killinger went coast to coast after a steal for a basket.
Madison Jurgens came off the bench and nailed a three to give Huron a 7-6 lead. Killinger drew Allison Janes second foul and made two free throws, then Jurgens was fouled on a rebound and hit one of two to send the teams to the second quarter tied at 8-8.
After two-and-a-half minutes of scoreless basketball, Chloe Carr took the ball to the hoop and was fouled, hitting both free throws. Olivia Vliem responded with a hoop and a foul, sinking the foul shot to put Sturgis up 11-10.
Heinz then continued her usual aggressive driving style, drawing a foul and hitting both free throws. Killinger answered with a baseline drive, drawing Carrs second foul and sinking both shots to give the lead back to Sturgis, 13-12.
Heinz double-clutched in the lane and sank a short jumper and followed that with another hard drive that resulted in a pair of free throws to give Huron a 16-13 lead.
Williams would nail Sturgis first long ball of the game to close out the scoring in the first half with the teams tied at 16-16.
The second half opened much like the first half as both teams committed turnovers on their first possession.
Abagail Harrington got Huron on the board first with a drive, picking up the foul and hitting one of two. Allison Janes would get a three from the win to give Huron a 20-16 lead.
Leigha Long split the Tiger defense for a Scooper bucket and Williams got fouled on a putback, hitting one of two free throws to make it 20-19.
Vlien would give Sturgis the lead with a putback, but Addyson Knight made a steal and got the ball at the end of the break for Huron to make it 22-21.
Killinger stuck a pull up jumper and Leigha Long made one of two free throws to give the Scoopers a 24-22 lead, but on the missed charity shot, the Tigers got the ball to Davis in transition and she sunk it as the quarter buzzer sounded to send the game into the final frame tied at 24-24.
After a pair of empty possessions for each team, Harrington nailed a three to open the fourth. Killinger picked up Carrs fourth foul and hit both free throws. Soon after,, Heinz would pick up her fourth foul off the ball, giving Huron three players with four fouls.
Heinz remained in the game and picked up two free trows to make it 29-26 Huron.
Avreigh Long then went on a mini run, hitting a three to tie and streaking through the defense for a layup and a 31-29 lead.
Davis and Carr each got one of two free throws to knot the score at 31 before Harrington was fouled and hit both to give the Tigers a 33-31 lead with less than a minute remaining.
Heinz would sink free throws at the end to give Huron a 37-31 victory.
Even though they didnt hit many of the shots, looking from the outside keyed the offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, according to Huron coach Kody Kopfmann.
We just kept grinding and grinding. Things did not go our way. We had to adjust, Kopfmann explained. We had to trust taking the outside shot, and just looking for that helped us in that fourth quarter.
The Tigers moved to 7-8 behind 15 points from Heinz. She and Carr each grabbed five rebounds.
Davis had five steals and Heinz snagged four.
Killinger was the sole player in double figures for Sturgis (5-9) with 10 points. Vliem grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and Leigha Long had five steals.
Kopfmann was proud of his teams effort in the win.
Nobody played great, but everyone played good. That Saturday afternoon game is always a tough one, so it was great to get the win, Kopfmann said. Well get a day off and then get ready for a tough week.
The girls will host Pierre on Tuesday.
Sturgis Brown 8 16 24 31
Huron 8 16 24 37
Sturgis Brown (5-9): Tori Williams 2 1-2 6, Avreigh Long 2 2-2 7, Leigha Long 1 1-2 3, Kierra Killinger 2 6-6 10, Oliia Vliem 2 1-1 5. Totals: 9 11-13 31.
Huron (7-8): Madison Jurgens 1 1-2 4, Allison Janes 1 0-0 3, Aly Davis 1 2-4 4, Hylton Heinz 2 10-10 15, Abagail Harrington 1 3-4 6, Addyson Knight 1 0-0 2, Chloe Carr 0 3-4 3. Totals: 7 19-24 37.
FG: S – 9/37 24%; H – 7/33 21%. 3-pt FG: S – 2/12 (Williams, ALong); H – 4/13 (Janes, Heinz, Harrington, Jurgens). Rebounds: S 29 (Vliem 8), H 29 (Heinz, Carr 5). Assists: S 2, H 4 (Davis, Heinz 2). Steals: S 8 (LLong 5), H 19 (Davis 5). Turnovers: S 26, H 26. Fouls: S 20 A Long out), H 16.
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