HURON — The Huron Tigers took on the Rapid City Stevens Raiders for a challenging game.  Ultimately, the Tigers’ were able to pull away for a 75-71 escape in overtime to claim the win in Class “AA” boys’ basketball action Friday night at the Huron Arena.
“At the end of the day, basketball is a simple game, but offensively and defensively sometimes we can make it more complicated,” said Huron head coach Jon Schouten. “Everybody that got on the floor made a great contribution to the game.”
Both teams took to the court with determination from the first buzzer. Kobe Busch put three points in the net for Huron, combined with a Tanner Evers shot moments later to give the Tigers a quick lead over the Raiders. Busch led Huron with 27 total points, while Tanner Evers totaled 25 points for the Tigers.
“Kobe was aggressive when he needed to be. He found teammates when needed, and he will pass to any player on the court. All he wants to do is win,” Schouten explained. “Those 25 points out of Tanner brought us up also. He does that in practice every day.”
Huron kept the upper-hand for most of the first quarter until a Daniel Vigoren throw gave the Raiders three points on the buzzer and claimed a 17-18 advantage for Rapid City Stevens to end the period.
Busch kicked off the second with a two point layup, followed by another three on the scoreboard off a Jett McGirr rebound. But the Raiders came back with the attack and maintained the lead for a 29-28 score at half-time.
“You have to give credit to Rapid City Stevens, they’re a good team,” Schouten said. “That was a heck of game. I told my team to look around at the crowd, the support we get from them helps us play like that against a good team.”
In the third quarter the lead stayed in the hands of the Raiders, but the Tigers put up a tough game and continued to tie the score back-and-forth until midway through the period. After the game was at an even 36-36 score, Rapid City Stevens pulled away with two Dawson Paulson buckets to gain a five-point lead.

It was a nail-biting fourth quarter. The Raiders began the last period with the advantage, but Busch grabbed an early five points back for Huron to tie at 49-49. Then Teegan Evers put the ball in the net for two points to give the Tigers a 59-57 lead, quickly answered for by Rapid City Stevens’ Anthony Pruitt to even the game back out at 59-59.
With less than a minute to go in the fourth, the Raiders were up on top at 63-61, but then a foul gave Huron a shot for two with 30 seconds on the clock, as Teegan Evers made the bucket to send the game into overtime at a 63-63 score.
Right away, Busch sent the ball to Tanner Evers for the early lead in overtime, but with both teams putting up a fight for the win, the game was kept alive with constant buckets on both sides of the court.
After a Dylan Pourier free throw at 2:18 left in overtime put the Raiders ahead by two, Huron caught fire as Teegan Evers and Busch reclaimed the lead with a defensive block and the winning two point shot by Cooper Fryberger to claim a 75-71 victory for the Tigers.
In JV action, Rapid City Stevens took a 56-41 win over Huron, as Kler Hae contributed nine points for the Tigers. In the freshman game Huron took a 59-40 loss.  
“We’ll get together in the morning and go over some things. But I want them to enjoy playing basketball,” said Schouten. “Rapid City Central is incredibly athletic and credible. We’ll be ready to battle with a good team.”
The Tigers are set to tangle with the Rapid City Central Cobblers today at the Huron Arena, while Rapid City Stevens will travel to Mitchell.
“I can’t say enough about this team,” Schouten added. “I’m very thankful and blessed to be a part of this group.”

Huron 17 11 16 19 12 — 75
Rapid City Stevens 18 11 20 14   8 — 71
Huron (2-1): Kobe Busch 9 5-7 27; Tanner Evers 11 2-2 25; Teegan Evers 4 2-4 12; Blake Cruse 2 0-0 5; Cooper Fryberger 2 0-1 4; Jett McGirr 1 0-0 2. Totals: 29 9-14 75.
Rapid City Stevens (1-2): Dawson Paulsen 8 1-1 22; Daniel Vigoren 6 0-0 15; Dylan Pourier 4 2-6 10; Anthony Pruitt 5 0-0 10; Colton Hartford 3 0-0 8; Mason Steele 3 0-0 6. Totals: 29 3-7 71.
FG: H — 29-59 49% (Tanner Evers 11, Kobe Busch 9); RCS — 29-63 46% (Dawson Paulsen 8, Daniel Vigoren 6). 3-pt FG: H — 8-21 (Tanner Evers 16; Kobe Busch 15; Teegan Evers 12); RCS — 10-30 (Dawson Paulsen 5; Daniel Vigoren 3). Rebounds: H — 35 (Kobe Busch 13); RCS — 32 (Daniel Vigoren 9). Turnovers: H — 13; RCS — 10. Steals: H — 7; RCS — 10. Fouls: H — 12; RCS — 13. Assists: H — 6; RCS — 1.