By Luke Kaiser saved his best offensive performance of the season for the right time.
The Aberdeen Christian junior scored a game-high 26 points as the No. 4 seed Knights held off a late charge by top-seeded Viborg-Hurley 52-49 Friday, March 20 at the Class B Boys State Tournament.
Christian will advance to play De Smet in the consolation championship.
Aberdeen Christian’s Dylan Hofer goes up for a shot during the Knights Class B Boys State Tournament semifinal against Viborg-Hurley Friday, March 20 inside the Barnett Center. Photo by Kevin Foss for the Aberdeen Insider.
“Just really proud of the guys and how they came back and responded after a tough loss (Thursday) against Castlewood,” said Christian head coach Matt Rohrbach. “(De Smet) is a really good team and we know we have to play our best and I know we will.”
The story of the first half was Luke Kaiser.
The Knights junior guard scored 21 points in the first half and 26 in the game. Kaiser went 10-18 from the field and hit four three pointers.
“I was getting the energy and confidence from teammates and when I started hitting they just kept hyping me up and telling me to keep shooting,” Kaiser said. “When we’d get the ball into the low post guys would kick it out to me if I was open and I was able to knock down shots.”
Rohrbach said the message in the first half was to ride the hot hand.
“Luke was incredible and we went to him as often as possible,” Rohrbach said. “He just had a flow to him that worked every time he touched the ball in the first half. He’s a great kid and works as hard as anyone.”
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Christian led 33-25 at the half, holding the Cougars to 9-27 shooting. Dylan Hofer’s bucket with 2:59 left in the third gave the Knights a 43-28 lead.
That changed quickly.
Cougars senior point guard Jake Austin hit a three pointer that started a 12-0 run that carried over until the 4:02 mark of the fourth quarter which cut the deficit to 43-40 with 7:12 to go.
“We’ve seen our kids respond like this all year long, it’s just the type of kids we have, they’re just very resilient,” said Viborg-Hurley head coach Shane Warwick. “We’re in a timeout, down 15 and the message was to just get a stop, just one at a time, let’s get it to seven and see where we are. I’m just so proud of how they fought back.”
Austin finished with a team-high 20 points.
“Jake’s a kid who doesn’t get talked about enough but I know, our coaches know it, he’s a warrior, he’s smart and he’s won a few games for us this year,” Warwick said. “He just knows how to play this game, and all that being said, he’s just a great kid. I get emotional talking about him, he’s such a great kid. I’m gonna miss him.”
Rohrbach said his decision to rest some of his starters during the beginning of Viborg-Hurley’s run almost cost his squad the game.
“Up 43-28, it was not exactly how I saw the game ending but we got ‘er done,” Rohrbach said. “It’s been our motto all season long — find a way to finish — and it’s a credit to this group’s mindset. They just bring it every single possession.”
Senior Grady Jett came up with a huge bucket for the Knights late in the game.
Aberdeen Christian’s Grady Jett takes a one-handed jumper over Viborg-Hurley’s Walker Warwick during their Class B Boys State Tournament semifinal Friday, March 20 inside the Barnett Center. Christian won the game 52-49. Photo by Kevin Foss for the Aberdeen Insider.
The Cougars had pulled to within three, 49-46, with 1:10 left. Brooks Jett took a foul-line jumper that rimmed out. His older brother grabbed the offensive rebound and went up to score to make it a five-point lead with 48 seconds left.
“We got the ball where we wanted to — to Brooks at that spot — he just missed it,” Grady said. “I had to be down there so I was right there, got the ball and put it back.”
Viborg-Hurley had one last chance to tie the game.
MORE: State B: Second-half surge leads Castlewood past Aberdeen Christian
Kaiser missed one of two free throws to make it a 52-49 lead with five seconds left. The Cougars got the ball to Bradyn Morrison in the corner for a good look at a three pointer but his shot hit off the rim and the clock expired.
“It was the longest five seconds that I can remember, that’s for sure,” Rohrbach said. “Viborg got a really good look at a three and obviously very thankful it didn’t go in.”
Christian and the Bulldogs will tip off at 12:45 p.m. for fifth place.
“Our whole mentality was to bounce back after (Thursday) night’s loss,” Kaiser said. “It feels a lot better to be playing for fifth place. We’re gonna bring a lot of energy and play team basketball and represent Aberdeen Christian really well.”
