STURGIS - The Huron Tigers opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to take a 10-point lead that they wouldn’t surrender as they defeated the Sturgis Scoopers Saturday in Sturgis.

Huron moves to 9-6 with the victory while Sturgis falls to 4-8.

The Tigers jumped out right away and got a three-point basket from Blake Ellwein, but a lightning-quick spin move underneath by Ryan Heinert for the Scoopers made it 3-2 and got both teams’ top scorer on the board right away.

Gavin Moeding lined up for a three and knocked it down and then Anderson Porisch stopped a popped a jumper in the lane to make it 8-2 early.

The Scoopers weren’t done, though as Carter Williams drove to the hoop against the Tiger full-court press and Heinert was fouled twice, once on a long-range shot, and he hit three of five free shots, bringing the score to 8-7 Huron.

Carsen Evans came off the bench and nailed a corner three, but Sturgis went into 6’9” big man Noah Schaefers for a short bucket in the lane.

After Ellwein made one of two free throws, Hayden Rock nailed a three from the top of the key to knot the score 12-12.

Ellwein got the ball after a steal and was going to go for a dunk, but saw defense coming, made the layup and was fouled. He calmly knocked down the free throw, and the Tigers led at the end of the first quarter, 15-12.

Williams found Jaxon Cano on a backdoor pass to open the second quarter, and the next trip, Heinert hit a fadeaway jumper to give the Scoopers their first lead at 16-15.

The two teams went back and forth for a couple of trips down the court before Ellwein stepped back for a three to make it 20-18. Ellwein then got a dunk after Moeding got the steal and the Tigers jumped back out to a 22-18 lead.

Heinert pulled up for a long jumper, but Trace Wenz answered for Huron with a layup off a backdoor pass by Porisch.

Heinert hit a pair of charity shots for Sturgis and Ty Petrocco got on the board with a free throw of his own to bring Sturgis within 24-23.

Huron then got a three from Ellwein and a Wenz steal and layup to quickly jump out to 29-23.

Heinert hit a pair of free throws and then CJ Gainey made a layup for Huron after a long outlet pass following a rebound.

Petrocco made a layup but Porisch responded with a baseline jumper as time ran out to send Huron to half leading 33-27.

The Tigers struggled out of the half break with three straight turnovers, with Heinert and Petrocco each getting a layup to bring Sturgis within 33-31.

Porisch made a pair of free throws and Ellwein hit a long jumper just inside the three-point line to push Huron’s lead back out to 37-31.

Petrocco was able to get a layup on the press, but Huron responded immediately as Holden Hegg found Wenz for a backdoor layup to keep the lead six at 39-33.

Heinert nailed a three, but Ellwein was able to get a steal and a dunk.

Petrocco got a pair of layups sandwiched around a Moeding steal and layup to bring the Scoopers within 43-40.

The Tigers went cold to end the third quarter while Teigen Wormstadt hit for a backdoor reverse layup and Heinert made a pair of free throws to give the home squad the lead heading into the final period, 44-43.

Despite being up six points multiple times in the third quarter, Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen noticed that his team didn’t have the “killer instinct” Saturday afternoon.

“We kind of got lethargic tonight,” Buddenhagen observed. “We didn’t attack the basket after we got up 8-10 points.”

The Tigers jumped out to open the fourth quarter as Ellwein spotted Evans underneath for a quick bucket, Porisch sank a pair of free throws, Moeding was fouled as he made a layup, and when he missed the free throw, the Tigers secured the offensive rebound and set up Wenz for a three, quickly jumping out to a 52-44 lead.

Petrocco got the Scoopers on the board in the fourth with a backdoor layup, but Porisch then made a pair of buckets to give the Tigers a 10-point lead, 56-46, after a 13-2 run to open the fourth period.

Sturgis was not down, however, as Heinert hit a three and then backed down for a bucket underneath to quickly cut the Tiger lead in half.

Ellwein responded with a put back bucket to make it 58-51, but on the ensuing possession for Sturgis, Ellwein picked up his fifth foul, putting the Huron leading scorer on the bench for the remainder of the contest with 2:10 left on the clock.

The Scoopers got the score down to 58-55 Huron before Porisch hit a short jumper to calm the Scooper momentum.

Wormstead hit a layup, but Porisch then made one of two free throws to keep it a two-possession game at 61-57 with 59 seconds left.

After a pair of empty possessions for both teams, Sturgis drew up a play to get Heinert a 3-point look, but Kolton Ogle got into his face, forcing him into an uncomfortable shot, he missed, and the Tigers got the rebound with the Scoopers forced to foul.

Porisch nailed a pair of free throws and Moeding also hit a pair of charity shots to ice the 65-60 victory.

Buddenhagen was proud of how his team held on for the victory.

“Give the kids credit,” he said. “We battled back and then held them off at the end there.”

Huron was led by 21 points from Ellwein. Porisch added 19, 11 of which came in the final period.

Wenz and Moeding each chipped in nine points for Huron.

Heinert hit for a game-high 29. Petrocco added 15 points.

Sturgis took the JV game, 59-54.

Huron will host Pierre Tuesday.

Huron     15 33 43 65
Sturgis     12 27 44 60

Huron (9-6): Trace Wenz 4 0-0 9, Gavin Moeding 3 2-5 9, CJ Gainey 1 0-0 2, Blake Ellwein 8 2-3 21, Anderson Porisch 6 7-8 19, Carsen Evans 2 0-0 5. Totals: 24 11-16 65.

Sturgis (4-8): Teigen Wormstadt 2 0-0 4, Hayden Rock 1 0-0 3, Jaxon Cano 1 0-0 2, Ty Petrocco 6 3-5 15, Ty Ferguson 1 0-0 3, Carter Williams 1 0-0 2, Ryan Heinert 7 13-15 29, Noah Schaefers 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 16-20 60.