by Benjamin Chase
of the Plainsman
HURON –– A big second half for the Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers turned a one-point game at halftime into a 64-51 victory for Jefferson over the Huron Tigers on Friday in SoDak 16 action in Sioux Falls.
Both teams came out looking to establish their defense. Brinley Altenburg put Jefferson on the board with a backdoor cut. Hylton Heinz would answer for Huron, scoring after a Tiger offensive rebound to knot the score at two apiece.
Heinz scored on a putback, and Altenburg sank a pair of free throws to keep the game tied, 4-4.
Freshman Brianna Kindvall drove in after one of many early Jefferson offensive rebounds and scored. Aly Davis responded with a hard drive and also hit the free throw to give Huron the lead, 7-6.
Macy Bryant drove in and made a floater for the Cavs, and Abby Horner had a steal and a basket to give the Cavaliers a 10-7 lead.
Davis drove in for a basket, but Horner responded with a backdoor cut.
Heinz hit a pair of free throws, and Addyson Knight made one of two free throws to tie the game, 12-12.
Horner and Knight then exchanged one of two free throws, and Addison Warnke did the same for Jefferson to give the home club a 14-13 lead at the end of one quarter.
Davis pulled up for a baseline jumper to open the second quarter, but Lydia Johnson was fouled and hit one of two to keep the game tied at 15.
Altenburg got a steal and a layup, then Heinz put in a pair of free throws. After a Heinz putback, Huron was up 19-17.
Taylor Silvernail hit a baseline jumper, and Horner made a drive, though she missed the ensuing free throw.
Knight was fouled on a made drive, but she missed the free throw, then Horner did the same for Jefferson.
Davis was fouled on a long pass and hit one of two free throws to send the teams to the locker room with the score 23-22 Jefferson.
Horner opened the second half with a basket and made the foul shot. Heinz answered with a drive for two. Horner was then fouled after a steal and sank one of two free throws.
Altenburg was then fouled on a putback attempt and sank both free throws to push the Jefferson lead out to 29-24.
Davis got a backdoor pass from Heinz, and then Heinz banked in a drive to get the Tigers within one, 29-28.
Bryant then copied Hylton and banked in a drive to the hoop before Emeri Bartels sank the first three of the game for either team. After Bryant sank one of two free throws, the Cavaliers had pushed the lead out to 35-28.
Heinz and Horner exchanged one free throw apiece before Heinz sank two charity shots.
Alyeah Johnson then put in a putback for Jefferson. Davis hit one free throw, and Altenburg made a basket in transition.
Heinz hit one of two free throws to send the game to the fourth quarter with Jefferson up 40-33.
The Cavs then broke open the game to start the fourth quarter, with a 9-0 run to open the frame to go up 49-33, and the Tigers couldn’t get back within single digits at that point as Jefferson closed out a 64-51 win and a berth in the state tournament.
Jefferson moves to 14-7 behind 20 points from Altenburg and 19 from Horner as the Cavs had nine players get into the scorebook.
Huron finishes with a 10-11 record. Heinz and Davis finished their Tigers career with 29 points and 16 points, respectively.
Jefferson looks to improve on a seventh-place finish in the 2025 Class “AA” tournament. The Cavaliers had finished third in the previous three tourneys.
The loss ends the career for five Huron seniors, Hylton Heinz, Hailey Rogers, Aly Davis, Jencie Goergen, and Chloe Carr. Huron coach Kody Kopfmann focused his postgame comments on the senior girls.
“I have so much gratitude that I was able to coach these girls. I have nothing but thanks for those seniors,” he said, choking up as he spoke. “They were the freshmen when I started this job. They’re a special group.”
Huron 13 22 33 51
Jefferson 14 23 40 64
Huron (10-11): Addyson Knight 1 2-5 4, Aly Davis 4 8-11 16, Hylton Heinz 9 11-13 29, Chloe Carr 1 0-2 2. Totals: 15 21-31 51.
Sioux Falls Jefferson (14-7): Abby Horner 6 7-15 19, Taylor Silvernail 3 0-0 8, Addison Warnke 0 1-2 1, Ayleah Johnson 1 0-2 2, Lydia Johnson 0 1-2 1, Emeri Bartels 1 0-2 3, Samantha Hofer 0 0-2 0, Macy Bryant 2 1-2 5, Brinley Altenburg 6 8-8 20, Brianna Kindvall 2 0-0 5. Totals: 21 18-35 64.
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