Hoop City Classic roundup for Dec. 28: Ethan, Hamlin among winners on opening day at Palace
Dec. 28—MITCHELL — A 16-4 push in the fourth quarter proved pivotal for Ethan to pick up a 67-64 boys basketball victory over McCook Central/Montrose in the leadoff game at the Hoop City Classic on Wednesday at the Corn Palace.
Riley Endres scored a game-high 31 points on a 14-for-23 shooting night, plus tallied 10 rebounds. Drake Gustafson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on 6-for-7 shooting, and Kody Klumb had 15 points for the Rustlers, who overcame a 9-for-23 free throw effort and outrebounded MCM by a 44-29 margin.
The Fighting Cougars went the final 6 minutes and 20 seconds without a made field goal and shot 31.8% in the second half of the game. Mason Sabers had 16 points and six assists, while Boston Katzer posted 13 points for MCM and Ty Morrison had 10 points for the Fighting Cougars.
Ethan (3-0) hosts Scotland on Thursday, Dec. 29, while MCM (3-1) is back in action on Friday, Dec. 30 against Corsica-Stickney at the Parkston Classic.
MITCHELL — After leading by 11 points early in the third quarter, Hamlin kept Howard at bay down the stretch in a boys basketball meeting at the Hoop City Classic on Wednesday at the Corn Palace.
For the Chargers, Tyson Stevenson had 16 points, while Brennan Keszler had 14 points and eight rebounds in the win, which saw Hamlin shoot nearly 65% in the second half, firing at an 11-for-17 clip. The Chargers shot 44.2% for the game.
Kolt Koepsell scored 19 points and logged eight rebounds for the Tigers, while Luke Koepsell had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Hamlin (2-0) will play against Dell Rapids on Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Entringer Classic in Brookings, while Howard (2-1) is back on the court on Friday, Dec. 30 at the Huron Holiday Classic against fourth-ranked Lower Brule.
MITCHELL — Viborg-Hurley pulled away in the second half to earn a win between Class B boys basketball stalwarts on Wednesday at the Hoop City Classic at the Corn Palace.
For the Cougars, Gage Gotteretz had 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists, finishing as one of four players for the Cougars with five assists, joined by Brady Schroedermeier, Braydyn Morrison and Devin Sayler. The Cougars had 23 assists on 25 made field goals in the game. Nick Hanson added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Bryson Morrison had 11 points for V-H,
Daniel Mitchell had a team-high 16 points for Gregory, while adding seven rebounds on 7-for-12 shooting. Noah Bearshield and Cruz Klundt each had six points.
Viborg-Hurley (3-1) will travel to Hanson on Jan. 5 for a game in Alexandria. Gregory (1-1) next plays on Jan. 3 hosting Andes Central/Dakota Christian.
MITCHELL — Houston (Tenn.) High School had three scorers log 15 points each in a win over Thunder Basin at the Corn Palace in the boys side of the Hoop City Classic.
Mavrick Miller — son of former Mitchell High School and NBA star Mike Miller — scored 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting and added four assists. Kameron Clark and Ethan Phillips each scored 15 points, with seven rebounds from Clark, and Saint Louis-bound Brock Vice had six points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
For Thunder Basin, Bodie Williams had 17 points and tallied seven rebounds. Kayden Laframboise had 14 points.
Wednesday's game was the start of a busy week for both teams. Houston will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Brandon Valley in Sioux Falls before playing twice on Friday at the Corn Palace against Totino-Grace (Minn.) at 1 p.m. and Orono (Minn.) at 5:30 p.m. The Bolts will play at 9 p.m. Thursday night against Sioux Falls Christian before playing taking on Mitchell at 8:30 p.m. on Friday at the Corn Palace.
