Ipswich boys 6B bracket champions

Revenge is sweet. Just ask the Ipswich boys' basketball coach Stewart Bohle about that!

Highmore-Harrold had topped Ipswich fairly recently in a regular-season encounter, but the Tigers indeed avenged that setback with a 59-50 bracket championship victory in Region 6B action last Friday in Highmore. Meanwhile Lower Brule would claim the other 6B bracket title with a convincing win over Herreid/Selby to advance to the SoDak 16. So did the Tigers, who were set to try to avenge another of their regular-season setbacks this one from Aberdeen Christian.

So the Knights and the Tigers were set to meet in a Tuesday, March 7 SoDak 16 match-up with that winner advancing to the State B.

Free throws and treys are key components of high stakes games at any level and the Tigers shot quite well in both categorys vs. the H-H Pirates. Especially in the final quarter where the hosts were attempting to stage a late rally.

Ipwsich made seven of eight final quarter free throw attempts plus a timely fourth-quarter trey from Chet Peterson.

Altogether Ipswich netted ten treys and seven two-pointers in its total floor shots and went 15-25 in free throw opportunities. The Pirates only totaled three treys and 16 deuces and were 9-15 in free throws.

The Tigers would overcome an early deficit to lead 14-10 after a quarter. And they led 26-20 at halftime and were then up 41-32 with a quarter to play.

Ian Beyers totaled 14 points including a trio of treys and Trevor Heinz was next with 12 points including one trey. Chet Peterson and Tyler Hettich each tallied 11 points. Hettich had three treys and Peterson two. Jace Konsor had nine points with three treys and Carter Geditz two points.

The Pirates were led by Carson Stephenson and Trey Knox with 12 points each followed by Dawson Hale with nine points, Mason Knox with seven points and Trake Cowen with six points. Bryce Bourk completed their effort with four points.

Ipswich had 29 rebounds, led by Peterson with 10 boards. Beyers added four of Ipswich's eight assists and four of his team's nine steals.