Short-handed Tigers fall to No. 1 Lincoln

By Benjamin Chase of the Plainsman
Posted 1/18/25

Huron battles against top team despite missing multiple contributors

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Short-handed Tigers fall to No. 1 Lincoln

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HURON –– Missing a key player to start the game and losing a starter early in the second half, the Huron Tigers fought until the end, falling to the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots 71-61 Friday at Huron Arena.

The Tigers came out fighting hard despite missing key reserve Davis Chase with an injury suffered in the Mitchell win Tuesday.

However, they didn’t execute the game plan against Lincoln the way that Huron did against Mitchell on Tuesday, according to Tiger coach Tim Buddenhagen.

“We knew it was going to be up-and-down. They play a fast-paced game,” Buddenhagen observed. “We had to keep them out of the middle, and we didn’t do a good job of that.”

Sam DeGroot got a bucket on a backdoor cut to open scoring for Lincoln, but Huron then scored the next six points on a basket and two free throws on transition attempts by Anderson Porisch and a layup by Bubba Peterson at the back end of the press break to take a 6-2 lead.

DeGroot hit a step-back three and Anderson responded with a corner three.
Brody Schafer took the ball in and was fouled, hitting both charity shots before Edison Noll drove and dished out to Justin Bilal for a three to give Lincoln a 10-9 lead.

Blake Ellwein would hit a three on consecutive possessions to make it 15-10, but Isaiah Teer drove through the lane and DeGroot got a reverse layup to make it 15-14.

Ty Kleinsasser came off the bench and hit a three, but Lincoln quickly got a bucket from Deondre Painter and a steal by DeGroot and a bucket to knot the score, 18-18.

DeGroot sunk a pair of free throws to make it 20-18, but Peterson was fouled on a drive and hit two free shots to knot the score. As time ran out, Peterson made a defensive play, and Mason Jurgens hit a long jumper to end the first quarter with a 22-20 Huron lead.

Anderson Porisch put back his only shot to give Huron a 24-20 lead.

That’s when Huron’s shooters went cold. Lincoln would go on a 14-1 run before Ellwein got fouled in the lane and hit a pair of free throws. Painter hit his third three of the quarter to send the Patriots to half with a 27-37 lead.

After an empty trip for each team, Ellwein drove into the lane, getting a hoop and drawing a foul. On the play, away from the lane, Colton McNeil collapsed to the ground, unable to put any weight on his leg as he was aided immediately to the locker room. He would not return.

DeGroot put in a bucket but Anderson Porisch got a basket and was fouled, converting the free throw, getting within 39-32. Schafer got a floater in the lane, but then Kleinsasser took over.

He would hit a three and after a Noll corner three and Anderson hit a three after a Peterson offensive rebound. Ellwein attacked the hoop for a basket to bring Huron within 44-40.

Schafer would get fouled on the drive, hitting one of two free throws, then Kleinsasser hit his third three of the game. He would be fouled on the next trip down the court, with a chance to tie the game. He would hit one of two to make it 45-44 Lincoln, but that would be as close as Huron would get.

Schafer slipped through the lane for a basket, then Krempges powered his way down low the next two trips, getting a bucket and foul shot then adding one of two free throws. Schafer again sliced through the lane to quickly make it 53-44.

Kleinsasser would hit another three as the third quarter wound down, but Sam Ericsson hit a fadeaway three to send the game to the final frame with Lincoln up 56-47.

Ellwein opened up the fourth quarter with a pullup jumper, but Huron struggled from the field as Lincoln scored the next eight points and stifled the Huron offense.

After a timeout, Porisch and Ellwein worked a pick-and-roll, with Anderson getting the bucket. Ellwein would get a putback and then one of two foul shots to close it within 64-54.

DeGroot hit a three and Kleinsasser responded with his fifth deep ball of the game. A post move by Anderson would get Huron within eight, 67-59, but the Tigers couldn’t turn the Patriots over, and foul shots and ball control allowed Lincoln to come away with a 71-61 victory.

The Patriots move to 8-0 behind 22 points from DeGroot to lead four players in double-figure scoring. Schafer had 14, Painter had 11 - all in the first half, and Noll scored 10.

Huron had a three-headed monster on the night, with Anderson Porisch leading the way with 19 points. Ellwein added 17, and Kleinsasser scored 16 as the Tigers fall to 5-3.

Lincoln swept the lower-level action, winning the JV game 77-38 and the sophomore game 72-53.

Buddenhagen says the team will enjoy some time off after playing hard.

“We had some wide-open looks that we didn’t hit. Give our guys credit, though, they battled back,” Buddenhagen said. “I really hope to see these guys again when we’re at full strength. Our kids have had a heck of a four-game stretch.”

The Tigers travel to Brookings on Tuesday.

Lincoln 20 37 56 71
Huron 23 27 47 61

Sioux Falls Lincoln (8-0): Edison Noll 4 0-0 10, Isaiah Teer 1 0-0 2, Justin Bilal 1 0-0 3, Sam Ericsson 1 1-4 4, Sam DeGroot 7 5-6 22, Deondre Painter 4 0-0 11, Brody Schafer 5 3-4 14, Luke Krempges 1 3-5 5. Totals: 24 12-19 71.

Huron (5-3): Mason Jurgens 2 0-0 4, Jonathan Peterson 1 2-2 4, Blake Ellwein 6 3-5 17, Anderson Porisch 7 3-3 19, Ty Kleinsasser 5 1-2 16, Carter Porisch 0 1-2 1. Totals: 21 10-14 61.