by Benjamin Chase
of the Plainsman
SIOUX FALLS –– The game never felt at hand until the final buzzer despite a 15-point margin as the Huron Tigers defeated the Mitchell Kernels, 51-36, at the Throwback Classic Tuesday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Neither team came out shooting well in the first quarter. After multiple empty possessions for each team, Owen Schelske got a putback for Mitchell to open scoring. Davis Chase answered with a putback on Huron’s next possession.
Colton Smith had a slick spin move in the lane for two for Mitchell. After a bit of a scoreless drought for both teams, Carter Porisch scored on a backdoor cut to tie the game, 4-4.
Schelske made a strong post move for Mitchell, but Blake Ellwein answered with a deep three to give Huron a 7-6 lead. That would be the tally at the end of the first quarter.
Blake got fouled and made a basket to open the second quarter to give Huron a 10-6 lead. Smith got one of two free throws, but Chase responded with a putback bucket.
Anderson Porisch drove through the lane and laid in a scoop shot and Blake Ellwein cut through the defense for two to give Huron a 16-7 lead.
Chase then technically scored the next two baskets, goaltending Owen Raml’s shot for Mitchell, and then getting a reverse layup to put Huron up 18-9. Mitchell was able to get one free throw each in two trips to the line to close out the first half, trailing Huron, 18-11.
Smith began a strong third quarter with a hook shot in the post. Chase then picked up his third foul with 7:14 left in the quarter, keeping him off the court for the majority of the third frame.
Mitchell took advantage, attacking the middle, as Weier scored a basket. After a Blake Ellwein jumper, Smith hit a basket to cut the Huron lead to 20-17.
Carter Porisch worked down low for a bucket, but Smith answered with a pair of free throws. Blake Ellwein made a strong move to the hoop for two, and Lincoln Bottum answered with a pair of free throws to make it 24-21 Huron.
Blake then nailed a long three. Smith responded with a short jumper, but Anderson Porisch answered with a backdoor cut to make it 29-23 for Huron.
Blake picked up his third foul with 2:45 left in the quarter, and Schelske hit two free throws. Anderson Porisch answered with a pair of free throws, and brother Carter Porisch was fouled on a strong spin move on the post and made the basket. After his foul shot, Huron had a 34-25 lead.
Smith and Blake Ellwein each hit a single free throw to close out the third with Huron up nine, 35-26.
Blake Ellwein got a steal to open the fourth quarter and was intentionally fouled to prevent a dunk. He made one of two free throws, then put in a post move on the ensuing possession to push the Huron lead to 38-26.
Schelske got a reverse layup, but Ellwein responded with a pair of free throws, and Carter Porisch made a quick move underneath for a 42-28 Huron lead.
Bottum pulled up for a jumper. After a James Shoultz Jr. free throw, Schelske added a backdoor basket off a pass from Smith to make it 43-32.
Chase and Schelske traded a pair of free throws. Ellwein then sank two free throws, and Anderson Porisch got a layup on the back end of a steal to push the Huron lead to 49-34.
The benches were then emptied with less than a minute left to close out a 51-36 Huron win.
Huron moves to 9-3 behind 23 points from Ellwein. Carter Porisch chipped in nine points, and Anderson Porisch and Chase each contributed eight.
Though he would have liked to see more scoring, Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen was pleased with the defensive effort.
“We can’t be too angry about how the game went,” Buddenhagen said. “Our defense has been much better since the Lincoln game.”
Mitchell falls to 5-6. Smith and Schelske each had 12 points.
Huron won the junior varsity game, 53-42, and taking the sophomore game, 65-59.
Huron is off until Tuesday, when they will host second-ranked Roosevelt.
Mitchell 6 11 26 36
Huron 7 18 35 51
Mitchell (5-6): Colton Smith 4 4-6 12, Collin Weier 1 1-2 3, Lincoln Bottum 1 2-2 4, Owen Raml 2 1-2 5, Owen Schelske 4 4-6 12. Totals: 12 12-18 36.
Huron (9-3): James Shoultz Jr. 0 1-2 1, Nolan Stahly 1 0-0 2, Blake Ellwein 7 7-10 23, Anderson Porisch 3 2-2 8, Davis Chase 3 2-2 8, Carter Porisch 4 1-1 9. Totals: 18 13-17 51.
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