HURON — The Sioux Falls Washington Warriors moved to 2-2 while putting four players in double figures, defeating the Huron Tigers 61-53 Thursday at Huron Arena.

The loss drops the Tigers to 3-2 on the year.

After Huron missed a shot on their first possession, the Warriors’ Thomas Hoffman slipped past his defender along the baseline and hit a layup for the first points of the game. The next trip down the court, Trace Wenz hit a three for the Tigers to put Huron on the board.

Blake Ellwein shook loose on a post move to get his first bucket of the game, giving Huron a 5-2 lead.

However, Washington senior Aidan Brooks hit a jump shot at the free throw line before Samuel Baskin connected on a long ball to give Washingto a 7-5 lead.

After empty possessions for both teams, Anderson Porisch hit a deep three to put Huron back on top 8-7.
Hoffman then got a screen and hit a three to give Washington back the lead and Lucas Johnson followed that up with a block that he then took to the other end for a layup for the Warriors, giving them a 12-8 lead.

Gavin Moeding attacked on the baseline and hit a layup as the first quarter buzzer sounded to make it 12-10 Washington after one.

CJ Gainey opened the second quarter with a long ball to give Huron the lead, but things went downhill for the Tigers after that.

Jhace Woods got a loose ball and dunked it down, Hoffman drove from the top of the key for a layup and then hit a falling layup the next trip down the court, and Woods had a pass deflected right to him for a layup, and suddenly the Warriors sported a 20-13 lead.

Woods would drive and draw a foul and hit one of two free throws. Then Moeding nailed a three to end what was a 9-0 run by Washington, bringing it within 21-16.

Hoffman would get fouled on the drive and hit one free throw and the Warriors would get a steal, with Raik Chol finishing with a layup.

Baskin hit a three to make it 27-16. As time ran out in the first half, Gainey hit a long three to make it 27-19 at the half.

Huron’s Carsen Evans puts up a shot as Lucas Johnson of Sioux Falls Washington goes for the block during their game Thursday at Huron Arena.

Brennan VerHey hit a jump hook to open the second half, and Ellwein answered with a drive to the basket.

The Tigers struggled with turnovers, and Baskin was able to hit a reverse layup after a steal and Johnson hit one of two free throws after a Washington steal.

The Tigers were kept afloat by Moeding, who hit for a backdoor cut and then answered Johnson’s free throw with a three to bring the Tigers within 32-26.

Hoffman answered Moeding with a stepback three, but Ellwein immediately hit a three of his own. Woods hit a pair of free throws and Baskin cut to the hoop to give the Warriors a 10-point margin at 39-29.

That’s when the Tigers went on a run to close out the quarter as Gainey hit a three, Moeding put in a scoop shot and Ellwein nailed a turnaround jumper to bring it within 39-36.

Hoffman hit a layup after a steal for Washington, but Moeding got one of two free throws and then he found McNeil on a backdoor cut for a layup just before the end of the quarter to bring it within 41-39 heading to the final period.

The momentum going into the final frame for the Tigers was quickly erased as Huron opened the quarter going 0-10 from the field.

The Warriors took advantage, going on 10-1 run to open the quarter. Porisch got the first Huron field goal in the fourth, but Johnson made a strong move down the lane for a bucket.

Porisch hit a putback, and Johnson followed with a three from the top of the key after the Warriors had milked down the entire shot clock, putting Washington up 56-44.

Hoffman hit a pair of free throws, and the Tigers brought in a full five off the bench. The fresh legs immediately paid dividends as Jonathan Peterson scored on a move to the hoop and Wenz hit a jumper and then a corner three, bringing the Tigers within 59-51.

That was as close as the home club would get as free throws closed out a 61-53 victory for Washington.

Washington was led by Hoffman with 20 points and three rebounds. Woods had 13 points, Johnson had 11, and Baskin had 10 and three rounds. VerHey also had three boards.

The Tigers were led by Moeding’s 14 points. Gainey and Ellwein chipped in nine and Wenz added eight.

With a long break ahead, Huron coach Tim Buddenhagen was frustrated with his team’s effort and focus on the night.

“We played ‘me’ ball. The only guy that had a direct drive to the hoop tonight was Gavin (Moeding),” Buddenhagen said. “Give them credit. They got in our head; they were physical with us and we never recovered.”

The next Huron action is Jan. 2 at Yankton.

Sioux Falls Washington     12 27 41 61
Huron             10 19 39 53

Sioux Falls Washington (2-2): Samuel Baskin 4 0-0 10, Thomas Hoffman 6 6-10 20, Brennan VerHey 1 0-0 2, Lucas Johnson 4 2-4 11, Raik Chol 1 0-0 2, Jhace Woods 4 5-7 13, Aidan Brooks 1 0-0 2, Burken Jacobs 0 1-2 1. Totals: 21 14-23 61.

Huron (3-2): Trace Wenz 3 0-0 8 , Colton McNeil 1 0-0 2, Gavin Moeding 5 2-5 14, Kolton Ogle 0 2-2 2, CJ Gainey 3 0-0 9, Blake Ellwein 4 0-0 9, Anderson Porisch 3 0-0 7, Jonathan Peterson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 4-7 53.

FG: SFW - 21/40 53%; H - 20/52 39%. 3-pt FG: SFW - 5/10 (Baskin 2, Hoffman 2, Johnson); H - 9/22 (Gainey 3, Wenz 2, Moeding 2, Ellwein, Porisch). Rebounds: SFW 26 (Three with 3), H 26 (Ellwein, Porisch 7). Fouls: SFW 9, H 16.