HURON — The Huron Tigers jumped out to a 17-4 edge after the first quarter and never looked back, scoring a 66-54 victory over the Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers Saturday at Huron Arena.
The Cavs started strong, with Jase Unzen getting a bucket off an inbounds play. After Blake Ellwein got Huron on the board with a putback dunk, Kuai Mayen made a post move to push the Cavs up 4-2.
Ellwein sank a step-bank jumper to start a 15-0 run for Huron that featured long range shooting from Anderson Porisch and Myles Ellwein along with work in the post from Davis Chase and Blake Ellwein.
Blake got a basket and a foul shot after a steal to close out the first quarter with Huron up 17-4.
Beau Koerner nailed a three, beginning a focus from outside for Jefferson. Blake Ellwein got a putback, Myles Ellwein hit a corner three, and Blake Ellwein got a dunk after a steal to put Huron up 24-8.
Unzen got fouled and hit his shots, and Chase responded with a dunk on a feed down low. Koerner and Tyson Tycz hit threes while Carter Porisch countered for Huron with a pair of baskets under the hoop to put the Tigers up 30-16.
After Unzen hit a three, Anderson Porisch knocked in a pair of free throws and Chase found the basket with a baby hook.
Unzen and Colby Nuttbrock combined for three free throws and Blake Ellwein hit one of two free throws to send the teams to half with the Tigers up 35-22.
Chase opened the second half with a hook shot, but Jefferson got a jumper and a three from Nuttbrock and a three from Unzen to quickly climb within 37-30.
Chase and Mayen exchanged buckets, but then Blake Ellwein took over the game. He extended for a finger roll in the lane, hit a three on the next possession, and finally, he put in a putback to put Huron back up 14, 46-32.
Blake continued powering the Huron offense as Tycz got a three and sank two free throws while Nuttbrook dropped in a pair of free throws. Huron held a 50-39 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
After Mayen got Jefferson within single digits with a short jumper to make it 50-41. Then, Chase took over the same way Blake Ellwein did in the third.
Chase scored on four straight possessions in a variety of ways, with short moves in the lane, a long jumper, and a putback basket.
The teams exchanged baskets from that point, but Huron kept Jefferson at bay to secure a 66-54 victory.
The Tigers move to 8-3 behind 26 points and 15 rebounds from Blake Ellwein. Chase added 21 points and seven boards.
Jefferson (4-5) had three players in double figures, led by Unzen with 13 points and seven rebounds. Nuttbrock added 11 and Mayen 10 for the Cavs.
Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen was enthusiastic after the game about his team’s performance.
“I thought this was our best game to date,” he said. “I thought we did a great job tonight keeping penetrating out and keeping them off-balance.”
“I’m really proud of the kids and the coaching staff tonight,” Buddenhagen continued. “We’ve just got to keep it rolling now.”
Jefferson 4 22 39 54
Huron 17 35 50 66
Sioux Falls Jefferson (4-5): Beau Koerner 3 0-0 9, Jase Unzen 3 5-6 13, Kuai Mayen 5 0-1 10, Colby Nuttbrock 3 4-6 11, Easton Riley 1 0-0 3, Tyson Tycz 2 2-4 8. Totals: 17 11-17 54.
Huron (8-3): Myles Ellwein 2 0-0 6, Chase Schuchhardt 1 0-0 2, Blake Ellwein 8 9-11 26, Anderson Porisch 2 2-2 7, Davis Chase 10 1-1 21, Carter Porisch 2 0-0 4. Totals: 25 12-14 66.
FG: SFJ – 17/42, 41%; H – 25/55, 46%. 3-pt FG: SFJ – 9/23 (Koerner 3, Unzen 2, Tycz 2, Nuttbrock, Riley); H – 4/15 (MEllwein 2, BEllwein, APorisch). Rebounds: SFJ 22 (Unzen 7), H 34 (BEllwein 15). Assists: SFJ 4 (Unzen 2), H 10 (BEllwein 4). Steals: SFJ 2, H 9 (Jurgens 3). Turnovers: SFJ 12, H 8. Fouls: SFJ 15, H 18 (CPorisch out).
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