HURON — The Huron Tigers will play in a state tournament for the first time since 2019, earning a trip with a 62-51 victory over the O’Gorman Knights Saturday in SoDak 16 action at Huron Arena.

Huron Tigers coach Tim Buddenhagen praised his team and the home crowd as he got emotional after the game.

“(The team) put in the work. They busted their tails. I’m so proud of these guys,” Buddenhagen said, choking up. “I’m proud of this crowd. This was what the Huron Arena should be.”

After a couple of empty possessions, the Huron Tigers used their height advantage to get three chances at the hoop before Gavin Moeding got a putback to fall for the first score of the game.

Austin Terveen got O’Gorman on the board with a drive to the hoop and then twin brother Caleb hit a pair of free throws to put the Knights up 4-2.

CJ Gainey got the ball in transition for the Tigers and streaked in for a layup, but Austin Terveen hit a jumper to give the Knights a 6-4 lead.

It would be their last lead of the game.

Anderson Porisch bookended three Blake Ellwein baskets as the pair were the two scorers on an 11-0 Huron run to jump out to a 15-6 lead.

Austin Terveen connected on a three to end the Huron run, but Holden Hegg drove across the lane for a Tiger basket.

Caleb Terveen hit one of two free throws, and the Tigers had the ball as time ran down, with Gainey nailing a three from the top of the key to send the game to the second quarter with a 20-10 lead for Huron.

The second frame was one of runs.

The Knights opened with a 9-0 run, capped off by the first bucket of the game from Nyun Dut to come within 20-19.

Huron then went on their own 8-0 run, keyed by a pair of threes from Gainey.

Henry Theobald hit a three from the top of the key to end the Huron run, making it 28-22.

Porisch hit a runner in the lane, Dut answered with a hoop and a harm.

Gainey then hit a fallaway baseline jumper and Dut answered with a strong move to the hoop to keep the game at 32-27 in favor of Huron.

John Lent hit a bucket off the bench for O’Gorman to get within three, but Porisch responded with a hard drive that earned him a pair of free throws to make it 34-29.

As time wound down in the first half, Haydeen Groos sank a three from the corner to make it 34-32 heading into half.

To call the third quarter ugly on offense for both teams would be an insult to ugly. Caleb Terveen hit a putback in O’Gorman’s first possession of the half to tie the game, but could not score in multiple possessions to take the lead.

Huron’s offense was not clicking well either, as Hegg hit a free throw with 4:37 left in the third for the first point for Huron in the second half.

Austin Terveen then hit one of two free throws, which combined with Hegg’s charity toss for the two makes for either team in the first eight free throws of the second half for both teams.

With the score knotted at 35 with three minutes left in the quarter, Carsen Evans hit a three for Huron.

Caleb Terveen hit a pair of free throws, but Porisch then drove in for a bucket.

Austin Terveen hit a pair of free throws with 45 seconds left in the quarter to bring it within one at 40-39.

Ellwein then closed out the quarter with his first points since the first quarter, hitting a pair of free throws and then getting a hoop and the harm to push the Huron lead to 45-39 heading into the fourth.

The two teams exchanged buckets to open the fourth quarter, before Gainey hit a corner three to make it 50-42. Gainey then picked up his fourth foul on the ensuing defensive possession.

Ellwein then did similar, getting a putback basket with six minutes left, then picking up his fourth foul on the next defensive possession. He did pick up another backet to push the Huron lead to 56-44, but Buddenhagen pulled Gainey and Ellwein at that point to keep them from fouling out.

For the next two minutes, Huron struggled on offense without two of their starters, but the defense prevented the Knights from clawing into the game, as they could only work back to 56-46.

After a court-length pass to Porisch led to a layup, Austin Terveen hit a three and a pair of free throws, narrowing the Huron lead to 58-51 and bringing back in Ellwein and Gainey.

Ellwein then nailed four of six free throws down the stretch to seal a 62-51 victory.

Buddenhagen could not say enough for his seniors as they earned the Tigers’ first trip to the state tournament since the 2020 cancelled tourney, making 2019 the last time Huron has played games in a state tournament.

“They’re really gritty, tough, and hard-nosed,” Buddenhagen said about the six seniors on the roster.

“The young guys are taking that in as they’ll have big shoes to fill next year.”

Huron moves to 13-8 behind 20 points and 12 rebounds from Ellwein. Gainey hit for 16 points and Porisch chipped in 14.

The Knights fall to 10-11. Austin Terveen led O’Gorman with 20 points.

Caleb Terveen and Nyun Dut each scored 10 points for the Knights.

The Tigers will face Brandon Valley in the first round of the state tournament, beginning Thursday, March 14, and Buddenhagen says they’ll enjoy the ride but focus won’t lessen from his squad.

“This is an awesome experience,” Buddenhagen smiled. “We’re going to enjoy the ride and enjoy the experience, but we’re definitely going to be ready for Brandon Valley.”

O’Gorman 10 32 39 51
Huron 20 34 45 62

O’Gorman (10-11): Ryland Satter 1 1-4 3, Hayden Groos 1 0-0 3, Austin Terveen 5 8-10 20, John Lent 1 0-0 2, Henry Theobald 1 0-0 3, Caleb Terveen 2 5-6 10, Nyun Dut 4 2-6 10. Totals: 15 16-26 51.

Huron (13-8): Colton McNeil 1 0-0 2, Gavin Moeding 1 2-2 4, Holden Hegg 1 1-2 3, CJ Gainey 6 0-2 16, Blake Ellwein 6 8-10 20, Anderson Porisch 4 5-7 14, Carsen Evans 1 0-0 3. Totals: 20 16-23 62.

FG: OG - 15/45 33%; H - 20/41 49%. 3-pt FG: OG 5/18 (ATerveen 2, CTerveen, Groos, Theobald); H 6/18 (Gainey 4, Porisch, Evans). Rebounds: OG 29 (ATerveen 5), H 32 (Ellwein 12). Turnovers: OG 9, H 10. Fouls: OG 20 (Satter out), H 21.