BROOKINGS – The Bobcats cruised to their second win of the season with a 56-45 Eastern South Dakota Conference triumph over Huron on Tuesday night at Bob Jostad Gymnasium.
Brookings put up 17 first-quarter points while limiting the Tigers to just two free throws over the first eight minutes to set the tone early.
The Bobcats scored the first eight points of the game before Havyn Heinz drained a pair from the line to get Huron on the scoreboard with 3:20 left in the quarter.
Brookings then dropped three 3-pointers – one each from Emma Hardin, Alli Gordon and Carolyn Hieb – over the final 3 minutes for the 15-point advantage at the first break.
The Tigers pulled within eight at 19-11 following Gracie Schoenfelder’s offensive-rebound basket with 3:14 to play in the half, but the ‘Cats went on a 10-3 run to close the half – capped by another 3 from Gordon to beat the buzzer – for a 29-14 halftime edge.
In the third quarter, Brookings built its lead to as many as 26 points at 48-22 after a Kailee Bartels’ basket with 1:13 left in the frame.
But the Tigers rallied in the fourth – outscoring the home team 21-8 over the final eight minutes – to make the final margin 11 points after Jayda Shillingstad’s basket with 22 seconds to play.
“That’s what we want to preach (to our girls) – just go out and battle – we’re not very big; every rebound is going to be a battle,” said Huron head coach Wade Stobbs. “We have to have some young girls step up and be leaders for us, and they can’t be afraid to take shots.
“We’re going to have to feed off of our guards and get some post play at times.”
Ava Burns led a balanced Bobcat attack with 13 points as Gordon and Hieb finished with nine apiece. Megan Gilk added eight points, while Johanna Miller pulled down nine rebounds. Grace Eggebrecht corralled eight boards, and Peyton Evans seven as the ‘Cats held a 45-31 advantage on the glass.
Heinz scored 22 points to lead the Tigers, who dropped to 0-3 overall and in the ESD.
On Friday, Brookings plays host to Harrisburg while Huron entertains Rapid City Stevens.
Huron 2 12 10 21 – 45
Brookings 17 12 19 8 – 56
Huron (0-3, 0-3 ESD): Tenley Buddenhagen 2-8 0-0 5, Reagan Rozell 2-6 0-0 6, Jayda Shillingstad 2-9 1-2 5, Havyn Heinz 7-18 4-5 22, Sam Shoultz 0-5 0-0 0, Gracie Schoenfelder 2-7 0-1 5, Allyson Fullerton 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 16-57 5-8 45.
Brookings (2-0, 2-0 ESD): Grace Eggebrecht 2-7 0-0 4, Peyton Evans 2-2 0-0 4, Megan Gilk 4-9 0-0 8, Carolyn Hieb 3-7 0-0 9, Ava Burns 5-11 2-4 13, Alli Gordon 3-6 0-0 9, Kailee Bartels 1-1 0-0 2, Megan Lippert 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Hardin 2-5 0-0 5, Amanda Schulte 0-0 0-0 0, Johanna Miller 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 23-53 2-4 56.
3-point goals – H 8-23 (Buddenhagen 1-1, Rozell 2-5, Shillingstad 0-3, Heinz 4-10, Shoultz 0-2, Schoenfelder 1-2); B 8-21 (Eggebrecht 0-1, Gilk 0-2, Hieb 3-6, Burns 1-5, Gordon 3-5, Hardin 1-2). Rebounds – H 31 (Schoenfelder 10), B 45 (Miller 9, Eggebrecht 8, Evans 7). Assists – H 7 (Shillingstad 4, Shoultz 3); B 10 (Eggebrecht 2, Gilk 2, Hieb 2, Burns 2, Gordon, Bartels). Steals – H 7 (Heinz 4); B 8 (Hieb 2, Hardin 2). Blocks – B 3 (Gilk, Bartels, Miller). Turnovers – H 14; B 16. Total fouls – H 10; B 11. Fouled out – None.
Photo:
Havyn Heinz knocks down a 3-pointer in the second quarter of the Tigers' 56-45 loss to the Bobcats on Tuesday at Bob Jostad Gymnasium in Brookings.
