HURON — The Huron Tigers suffered a decisive 61-46 loss, as Harrisburg claimed the victory on Tuesday night at the Huron Arena. Harrisburg leads in power points for Class “AA” girls’ basketball this season and settled as runner-ups at the state championships for the previous two years in a row.
“We’re not going to get any taller so we’ve got to get a lot tougher. It takes all five girls to get on the board, we can’t just stand around,” Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen explained.
Third-ranked in the state, Harrisburg now improved its season record to 10-1, after one loss to Brandon Valley was recorded for the team earlier this month. The team was led by Kiki Berndt with a game-high of 17 points, while Aby Phipps tallied 13 for the team en route to the win. Berndt lit up the scoreboard for Harrisburg with a triple threat of three-pointers to kick off the opening quarter, and totaled five shots in the bucket for three each during the game.
Bella Shreeve led Huron with 14 points, including four three-pointers throughout the game, two of which were back-to-back in the fourth period, with the last shot for three coming from a Tenley Buddenhagen rebound. Havyn Heinz totaled another 13 points on the scoreboard to keep Huron alive while Sami Schoultz led the rebounders with 11.
“When we’re quicker to the ball then we can get some easy shots in that we weren’t getting before, like we did toward the end,” said Buddenhagen. “We were eight for 16 for three’s. That’s a step in the right direction and the best we’ve shot for threes all year. I thought the girls did a nice job of stop and go. We went to the hoop a couple times and missed the layup but Bella and Havyn were able to move fast and put up the bucket.”
Schultz claimed the first points for Huron with a bucket from her own rebound, while Heinz broke an 8-2 Harrisburg run with a shot at one minute 15 seconds to play in the first half.

Buddenhagen made a pair of three point shots for Huron in the second, first to open the scoring in the period and then again on the half-time buzzer, to go into the third quarter with Harrisburg at a 32-17 lead.
Kylie Overbay threw the basketball for three to bring Huron within 15 points of dominant Harrisburg at a 35-20 score, after Berndt made her fourth three-pointer of the game 30 seconds into the third.
Huron scored 17 points in the last quarter to came back from a 21 point Harrisburg advantage, as shots from three-point territory by both Buddenhagen and Shreeve cut the competitors’ lead down to 14 halfway through the fourth period of play, sending Harrisburg into a time out.
Harrisburg maintained control as the team did not give up the lead once during the game and ended the scoring with a 15-point lead, 61-46.
“This bunch doesn’t give up. They keep on persevering and hat says a lot about them, but we have to have that skill and the courage to get good shots,” Buddenhagen said. “Friday at practice we’re going to be focused and ready to compete with Aberdeen and defend our home court after that.”
Huron fell to a record of 2-9 with the loss and will travel to Aberdeen to take on the Golden Eagles for more Class “AA” action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, while Harrisburg will tangle with the Arrows, Saturday in Watertown.

Harrisburg 18 14 18 11 — 61
Huron 7 10 12 17 — 46
Harrisburg (10-1): Kiki Berndt 9 0-0 17; Aby Phipps 4 5-7 13; Jeniah Ugofsky 4 1-2 9; Brecli Honner 3 0-0 7; McKenzie Beaner 2 0-0 5; Faith Van Holland 1 2-4 4; Emilee Boyer 1 0-0 2; Carolyn Haar 1 0-0 2; Sadie Roth 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 8-13 61.
Huron (2-9): Bella Shreeve 5 0-0 14; Havyn Heinz 5 3-3 13; Tenley Buddenhagen 3 0-0 9; Sami Schoultz 3 1-4 7; Kylie Overbay 1 0-0 3. Totals: 17 4-7 46.
FG: HA — 23-49 49% (Berndt 6); HU — 17-41 42% (Shreeve 5, Heinz 5). 3-pt FG: HA — 7-22 (Berndt 5, Honner 1, Beaner 1); HU — 8-16 (Shreeve 4, Buddenhagen 3, Overbay 1). Rebounds: HA — 31 (Phipps 9); HU — 22 (Schoultz 11). TO: HA — 4; HU — 10. Steals: HA — 6; HU — 1. Fouls: HA — 11; HU — 8.