Tigers earn victory against Yankton

By Benjamin Chase of the Plainsman
Posted 2/1/25

Tigers win on Thursday

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Tigers earn victory against Yankton

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HURON –– The Huron Tigers jumped out early and sustained their lead the rest of the way, defeating the Yankton Bucks 55-45 Thursday at Huron Arena.

One of the weak spots for the Tigers this season has been a slow start, but that wasn’t the issue at all Thursday, as the Tigers quickly jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind a pair of layups for Blake Ellwein and a three and a putback by Anderson Porisch.

Beck Ryken hit a three to open the scoring for Yankton. Porisch was then fouled and hit two free throws and snuck behind the defense for a layup to make it 13-3.

Ellwein got a steal and a layup, but Carson Ness responded with a steal and a reverse layup.

Ellwein made a strong inside move for a bucket, and Ness answered with a pair of free throws. Eighth-grader Carter Porisch came off the bench and was fouled down low, making two free throws to send the game to the second quarter with Huron up 19-7.

Huron’s early focus working the ball into the middle led to multiple easy buckets and Tiger coach Tim Buddenhagen stated that was the goal on the night.

“We’re trying to get the ball up and down. We’re trying to get a couple of post touches,” Buddenhagen explained. “They did well getting the ball inside tonight.”

The Bucks would come out and stifle the Huron offense to open the quarter, as Huron went the first three minutes of the quarter without a field goal.

Yankton got a three from Jason Kudera, another long ball from Owen Eidsness and a floater from Ness to cut the lead to 19-15.

Ellwein got a pair of free throws and then had a putback basket to make it 23-15 Huron.

Ness would get a basket off a turnover, but Trace Wenz answered with a wing three.

Eidsness answered Wenz’s long ball with his second of the quarter. Bubba Peterson was fouled on a drive with 10 seconds left in the half and hit both charity shots. However, Colt McNeil picked up his third foul as Ryken launched a last-second three. Ryken hit two of three free throws to make it 28-22 Huron heading into the halftime break.

The Tigers opened with Ellwein getting a putback of his own shot, but Ness answered with a hard drive to get the hoop and the harm. McNeil picked up his fourth foul and would sit out the rest of the quarter.

Porisch hit for a pair of free throws, then Easton Nelson answered with a three to make it 32-28.

Ellwein had a bucket underneath and was fouled and hit both shots before Davis Chase had a strong move underneath, got the bucket and was fouled. He hit the foul shot to push the Huron lead out to 39-28.

Bryce Kral had a bucket after a Huron turnover, but Anderson Porisch made a strong move and drew Kral’s fourth foul, hitting one of two free throws.

Chase got a bucket on the back end of a Buck turnover and Wenz made a pair of free throws to push the lead out to 44-30.

Ness would get a pair of free throws, but Ellwein answered with a finger rol, and Huron headed to the final frame leading 46-33.

Ryken hit a pull up jumper, then Huron went on a run in the fourth, with Porisch hitting a pair of free throws.

Ellwein hit on one of two free throws and Mason Jurgens found Chase for a dunk to make it 51-35, equalling Huron’s biggest lead of the game.

Freshman Jackson Kudera came off the bench and hit a pair of threes for Yankton as part of eight points in the quarter, but the Bucks never got closer than ten points, as Huron closed out a 55-45 victory.

Buddenhagen was pleased with the work inside on offense, but he noted that there are some things to work on for his squad.

“The post player has to come meet the ball,” he observed. “That will help us use that post more often and save us turnovers.”

Ellwein led the way for the Tigers, now 8-4, with 21 points and Porisch added 17.

Ness led the way for the Bucks (2-10) with 13 points before fouling out and Kudera hit for 11.

Yankton won the junior varsity game by the score of 58-48. Huron won the sophomore game, 68-56.

The Tigers travel to Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Tuesday. Buddenhagen sees getting playing time deep onto his bench (12 players played Tuesday for the Tigers) as a way to help prepare for the rest of the season.

“The more guys we can get in during big times of the game, the better,” Buddenhagen stated. “We’ve got to keep rotating guys and make sure everyone is following the game plan. ”

Yankton 7 22 33 45
Huron 19 28 46 55

Yankton (2-10): Easton Nelson 1 0-0 3, Carson Ness 4 5-5 13, Owen Eidsness 2 0-0 6, Bryce Kral 1 0-0 2, Beck Ryken 2 2-3 7, Miles Drotzmann 0 2-4 2, Jackson Kudera 4 0-0 11, Austin Conway 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14 10-14 45.

Huron (8-4): Trace Wenz 1 2-2 5, Kolby Hofer 0 1-2 1, Jonathan Peterson 0 2-2 2, Blake Ellwein 8 5-6 21, Anderson Porisch 4 7-8 17, Davis Chase 3 1-1 7, Carter Porisch 0 2-2 2. Totals: 16 20-23 55.

FG: Y - 14/45 31%; H - 16/33 49%. 3-pt FG: Y - 7/24 (Kudera 3, Eidsness 2, Nelson, Ryken); H - 3/12 (APorisch 2, Wenz). Rebounds: Y 22 (Three with 4), H 29 (APorisch 6). Assists: Y 5 (Kral 2), H 12 (Five with 2). Steals: Y 7 (Ness, Ryken 2), H 9 (APorisch 3). Turnovers: Y 14, H 16. Fouls: Y 17 (Ness out), H 13.