by Benjamin Chase
of the Plainsman
BRANDON –– The undefeated and top-ranked Brandon Valley Lynx coasted to a victory over the Huron Tigers Friday in Brandon, 56-35.
The Tigers came out fighting hard, though Lynx top scorer Alyvia Padgett got the first basket as she took off in transition for a layup. Aly Davis responded for Huron with a three to give Huron a 3-2 lead.
Padgett drove through the defense for a basket and then got a putback to make it 6-3. Davis was fouled and hit both charity shots to make it 6-5.
The Lynx then went on an extended run, fueled by a host of Huron turnovers. Vivian Thompson nailed a three from the top of the key. Padgett got a steal and a layup. Gracie Salter got a layup after a Huron turnover. Padgett then hit a short jumper and nailed a three in back-to-back possessions to quickly make it 18-5 Lynx.
Jayla Schley missed a pair of free throws and Salter scored off a pass from Padgett. Hylton Heinz drove down the lane for a bucket and then found Schley underneath for a score to make it 20-9 Brandon Valley at the end of one.
Rayleigh Stultz nailed a long ball to open the second quarter for the Lynx, but Heinz then found the weak spot in the Brandon zone and attacked in, getting jumpers from nearly the same spot two possessions in a row.
Padgett was fouled on a drive, but did not hit the extra free throw. Salter got a putback and then made a post move underneath on the next possession to make it 31-15 Lynx.
Heinz found Addyson Knight for an easy two and then hit another jumper from that same spot to make it 31-19.
Padgett sank a leaner with 20 seconds left in the half to close out scoring in the first half with Brandon Valley up 33-19 at the break.
Ava Kellenberger got a bucket in transition for the Lynx, but Davis responded with a quick drive.
London Geiver nailed a three and Padgett got a transition basket to push the Lynx lead out to 40-21.
Davis and Chloe Carr each hit one of two free throws, but Padgett then answered with a three and a basket in transition to make it 45-23 for the home team.
Heinz found the soft spot in the zone for a jumper. Brandon hit one of two free throws on consecutive trips, then Heinz hit another jumper in the lane to make it 47-27 heading into the final frame of the game.
Heinz hit a jumper to open the fourth, but Salter got a putback. After a long break without scoring from either team, Geiver nailed a three to push the Lynx lead to 52-29.
Heinz went over a triple team to hit a jumper and then found Knight on a backdoor cut. Reese Condon made her first basket of the night for Brandon to go up 54-33.
The benches emptied with 3:20 left in the game as the Lynx closed out a 56-35 win.
The Lynx close out a perfect 20-0 season behind 25 points from Padgett and 12 points from Salter.
Heinz closed out her Huron (10-10) career with 18 points. Davis added eight.
Despite the turnovers, Huron coach Kody Kopfmann was happy with the effort of his team.
“They get you sped up so fast. We had a few silly turnovers,” he said. “We played our butts off all week with these matchups. I think our girls got tired in the second half.”
Huron will be on the road for the SoDak 16 on Friday.
“If we play like this, I feel good about going into Friday, no matter who we’re playing,” he raved. “We’ll be road warriors. Our girls are ready to go.”
Huron 9 19 27 35
Brandon Valley 20 33 47 56
Huron (10-10): Addyson Knight 2 0-0 4, Aly Davis 2 3-4 8, Hylton Heinz Heinz 9 0-0 18, Ramsey Rozell 0 2-2 2, Chloe Carr 0 1-2 1, Jayla Schley 1 0-5 2. Totals: 14 6-13 35.
Brandon Valley (20-0): Ava Kellenberger 1 0-2 2, Logan Walkes 1 0-0 2, London Geiver 2 0-0 6, Reese Condon 1 0-0 2, Rayleigh Stultz 1 0-0 3, Alyvia Padgett 11 1-3 25, Vivian Thompson 1 0-0 3, Gracie Salter 6 0-2 12, Anika Pedersen 0 1-2 1. Totals: 24 2-9 56.
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