Tigers stop Sully Buttes boys at home

Basketball outcomes can sometimes feature lengthy runs by both teams and that was certainly the case during the Ipswich boys' 56-53 non-conference victory over Sully Buttes last Tuesday in the Tiger Den. The Tigers indeed held on for that three -point one-possession win, shaved in half from six points by a Chargers' trey with about four seconds left.

The Tigers had put together a seemingly insurmountable 50-33 edge with a nine-point run started by a Carson Gohl layup to close out the third quarter with Ipswich up by 10, 43-33. Matt Hettich added a basket to open fourth-quarter scoring and Ty Kadlec added a trey. Eric Severson got free underneath to cap the rally, giving the Tigers that 17-point cushion.

But Sully Buttes apparently told their bus driver to don't start the bus just yet. That's because they would continue to chip away their deficit down the stretch, as the game clock would finally be Ipswich's friend. "Yes, we were up 17," said Tiger Coach Tyler Severson. "They scored some timely shots and we had some quick shots and quick possessions and some turnovers as well." And fortunately as you might guess the visitors finally needed to foul for possession. Josh McQuarie made one of his two free throw tries, as did Kadlec for that late 56-50 edge.

The Chargers had showed that tendency to hang around after Ipswich had impressively stormed out to a 19-8 first-quarter edge courtesy of a Taylor Thorson basket that ended the opening quarter. The visiting team would pretty much dominate the second quarter, though, to shave their deficit to 28-26. But a timely Matt Jaenisch basket gave the hosts a two-possession edge going into their locker-room.

McQuarie would lead Ipswich with 16 points, featuring five accurate treys. Next was Severson with 14 points, followed by Thorson almost in double-figures with nine points that included a lone trey. Ipswich's remaining trey was that crucial one by Kadlec also helping him to nine points on the night. Jaenisch finished with four points and Gohl and Matt Hettich, two points each.

The visitors certainly benefited from Rafe Wientjes with a game-high 17 points and Marshall Wittler also reached double-figures with 13 points. Jesse Schall was almost there with nine points and only three other Chargers would score.

The visitors shot 22-49 from the floor that included six treys and were 3-5 at the charity stripe. Ipswich countered with a 23-53 floor-shot evening that featured those seven accurate treys. The Tigers went 3-10 in their free throw opportunities.

Ipswich collected 28 rebounds in a balanced effort led by Thorson, McQuarie and Severson with five each. The visitors grabbed 33 retrieves, paced by Caleb Chicoine with eight. The hosts committed 18 turnovers; SB, 19, so that was fairly even. Ipswich had eight steals, led by Kadlec with five.

The Tigers improved to 6-2 after the win and were next scheduled to host Groton Area in a girls/boys battle of the Tigers on January 19 in the Ipswich Tiger Den. The boys and girls will travel to Faulkton on Jan. 21 and then to Huron to meet James Valley Christian on Saturday, Jan. 23. There will be a doubleheader on Jan. 26 with the Tigers hosting Warner, a game that had been postponed.