HURON –– One of the Huron Tigers’ struggles over the season has been consistent play from quarter to quarter. Friday was the team’s best example of what it can do when it plays four full quarters, as the Tigers blew by the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles by the score of 56-38 Friday at Huron Arena.

For a team that has struggled shooting this season, the Golden Eagles came out firing in the first half, as Jacob Weishaar got the first basket of the game on a drive through the lane. Anderson Porisch answered for Huron with a strong drive through the lane to knot the score.

Colby Dauwen got a mismatch underneath and made the post-up basket for Aberdeen, but Porish responded with a three from the win.

Brendan Phillips nailed a three of his own from the corner for the visitors, putting Aberdeen in the lead 7-5, but that lead did not last long as Blake Ellwein nailed a corner three to retake the lead for Huron, 8-7.

Jack Bertsch got a bucket on a backdoor cut for the Golden Eagles, then Davis Chase missed a pair of free throws for Huron. On the rebound of Chase’s second free throw, the ball found its way to Myles Ellwein from the top of the key for three. A steal and a dunk by Blake would put Huron up 13-9.

Bertsch made a fadeaway shot in the lane off the inbounds and then Luke Swanson drained a three from the extended wing to give Aberdeen a 14-13 lead.

That would be the last Golden Eagle score of the quarter, as Porisch would put in a bucket off an inbounds pass, then after an Aberdeen turnover, Porisch drove into the lane, passed out and Blake Ellwein drained a three. Chase was fouled underneath and hit both free throws.

As Aberdeen attempted to get a shot before the quarter break, they turned the ball over, and Blake was fouled on his way to the hoop, hitting both free throws to send the teams to the second quarter with Huron up 22-14, closing the opening frame on a 9-0 run.

Michael Dutenhoffer came off the bench and got the first points of the second quarter with a high-arching shot off the glass over Blake. Porisch got a bucket on a strong move in the post, but Swanson answered with a three from the deep wing to make it 24-19.

Chase got a bucket off a pick-and-roll with Blake to make it 26-19, but then both teams went cold for an extended time.

Blake Ellwein would get a stop and pop jumper from the free throw line in the midst of the drought for both teams, but it was another two minutes without scoring until Porisch got a scoop shot through two defenders to make it 30-19 Huron.

Chase was fouled and hit one of two, then Dauwen drew Bubba Peterson’s third foul but missed both free throws. Blake Ellwein was again fouled as time ran out and hit both free throws to send the teams to the locker room with the Tigers up 33-19.

Blake Ellwein opened the third quarter with a deep post move that got him a hoop and the harm. Swanson responded for Aberdeen with a turnaround shot in the lane and then Ellwein put in another post move. After Chase hit one of two free throws, the Tigers were up 38-21.

Swanson hit a pair of free throws and Turner Bergan hit a pair of foul shots. Chase then got a dunk off an excellent wraparound pass by Ty Kleinsasser on the baseline.
Blake got a putback bucket to put Huron up 44-25, but Swanson responded with a strong move, picking up the foul and hitting a pair of charity shots.

For the third quarter of the game, the final seconds ticked off with the ball in the hands of Blake Ellwein, and for the third time, he hit the shot, nailing a falling shot as the buzzer sounded, sending the teams to the final period with Huron up 46-27.

Ellwein got the first four points of the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws and a layup. Phillips hit a three for Aberdeen, and Dauwen followed up with a jumper, and Ellwein drove through traffic for a bucket to make it 52-32. He would then sit down for the game.

Phillips connected for another three, then Chase hit one of two free throws. Phillips came back with one of two free throws of his own before Chase got a reverse layup to make it 55-36.

Phillips got a bucket and with three minutes left, both teams began emptying the bench. Huron would close out the 56-38 victory.

Tigers coach Tim Buddenhagen was pleased with his team’s effort from tip to final buzzer Friday.

“Solid performance from start to finish. We haven’t had a lot of those this year,” he said. “We put the foot on the gas and kept it there.”

Huron moved to 12-5 with 52 of its 56 points coming from three players, led by Blake Ellwein with 28 points and nine rebounds, both game-high numbers. Chase had 13 points and Porisch bucketed 11.

Buddenhagen said that while those three didn’t do the offense alone, when they can carry the load like they did Friday, Huron is tough for anyone to beat.

“When we get our three going, we’re tough,” he smiled. “We can put any of those three on the block and have a mismatch most of the time.”

The Golden Eagles fall to 2-13. Phillips and Swanson each had 12 points. Phillips led Aberdeen with six rebounds.

The Tigers swept lower-level action, winning the JV game by the score of 53-29 and taking the sophomore game, 62-44.

The Tigers travel to Watertown Friday.

Aberdeen Central 14 19 27 38
Huron 22 33 46 56

Aberdeen Central (2-13): Michael Dutenhoffer 1 0-0 2, Turner Bergan 0 2-2 2, Brendan Phillips 4 1-2 12, Luke Swanson 3 4-4 12, Colby Dauwen 1 0-2 2, Jacob Weishaar 2 0-2 4, Jack Bertsch 2 0-0 4. Totals: 13 7-12 38.

Huron (11-5): Myles Ellwein 1 0-0 3, Blake Ellwein 10 6-7 28, Anderson Porisch 5 0-0 11, Ty Kleinsasser 0 1-2 1, Davis Chase 3 7-12 13. Totals: 19 14-21 56.

FG: AC - 12/39 31%; H - 19/45 42%. 3-pt FG: AC - 5/13 (Phillips 3, Swanson 2); H - 4/15 (BEllwein 2, Porisch, MEllwein). Rebounds: AC 25 (Phillips 6), H 33 (BEllwein 9). Assists: AC 4 (Weishaar 2), H 14 (Peterson 4). Steals: AC 3, H 10 (BEllwein 4). Turnovers: AC 17, H 13. Fouls: AC 18, H 19.