Entering the SoDak 16 with momentum from a nine-game Wessington Springs Spartans’ winning streak, the match up against the Viborg-Hurley Cougars quickly became physical with plenty of contact last Tuesday in Salem.
“Obviously Viborg-Hurley was a very good team and very impressive with their size. We ourselves have nice height for a Class B team, but the size of them along with their physicality gave us trouble. They were bigger than us but I thought we played hard,” said Wessington Springs Spartans Boys Head Basketball Coach Kenny Huether. “In the end, they had two kids Gage Goettertz (24) and Nick Hanson (34) who were so strong in the low post. When they needed a big basket on a possession, they would isolate one of them down low and go there. For the most part, they delivered.”
Brock Krueger was the first to put Wessington Springs on the board with a drive, leading into the back-and-forth of both teams, trading the lead six times in the quarter. The Spartans were able to get the final four points in the first half, down just one at 28-27. In the final period, the Spartans made a healthy dose of runs but couldn’t pull closer than four points, falling to the Cougars 62-56, finishing the season 16-7.
Blake Larson led the team with 21 points. Brock Krueger chipped in 15 and Ryder Michalek bucketed 10 points for Springs. Michalek led the team with eight rebounds and four assists.
“I’m not going to blame the loss on the refs, but that was a game in which we needed every call that we could get, and we needed a few more,” Coach Huether shared while marveling at the incredible energy from the fans during the game. “I’m proud of the effort in a great environment — the Salem gym was packed — they filled their half and we filled ours. It was so loud at times in the huddle, I don’t think it mattered how loudly I spoke, I’m not sure the boys were able to hear me.”
Huether said that despite the loss, there is much to celebrate.
“I never have to worry about the boys bringing the effort. They are a passionate group that loves basketball — they come to work every day and it’s something I truly appreciate as a coach,” Huether stated. “At the beginning of the season, I set two goals: to have a winning record, which we accomplished fairly early. The second was to reach the SoDak 16 game. After that thrilling win over Marty, we secured the second goal. Any thing else we could grab along that journey we would gladly accept, like winning the 281 conference, which we did.”
Once attaining the goals set at the beginning of the season, Coach Huether and the Spartans set a third goal: to make it to the State B tournaments. Although that wouldn’t be the case this year, Huether is appreciative of the undertaking.
“I’ve found over years that it doesn’t matter how many big games you win, you always want the next one,” stated Huether, who has been coaching basketball for 28 years. “I am proud of the kids and the effort. We gave a top team in the state a good scare, a good fight.”
Looking forward to next season, a lofty goal looms in the distance.
“I’m not going to hide from it. Our one main goal is to qualify for the state tournament. The boys know it and Cody (Hasty) and I know it. We will work hard in the off season, taking small steps to get better in a number of areas in order to make that goal happen,” he said. “It will put pressure on us, reaching that high. But that is what we are chasing. There is nothing wrong with having a dream that high.”
On the heels of revealing next year’s goals, he reflects back on the journey that led him here.
“In only one year getting back to the Wessington Springs area, I have fallen in love with the, community, the kids, the parents,” Huether shared. “What we have here, is an example of when everything in high school basketball is right — the strong support, the desire. We do all have a lot to look forward to and hopefully keep things rolling and accomplish our highest of dreams.”