RAPID CITY, S.D. — Harrisburg withstood a late Watertown rally and pulled out a 65-61 victory Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the Class AA boys basketball state tournament at The Monument Ice Arena, earning a spot in Friday’s semifinals.
The fourth-seeded Tigers led from early in the first quarter and never trailed, though they never fully shook the fifth-seeded Arrows, either. Harrisburg held a 12-11 edge after one quarter, a 25-22 advantage at halftime and a 43-37 lead heading into the fourth before surviving a frantic finish.
Watertown kept coming in the final period. Carter Buisker’s 3-pointer tied the game at 45, and the Arrows later drew even again at 49, 56 and 59. Each time, however, Harrisburg answered, from the free-throw line or with a timely basket in the lane.
Buisker led Watertown with 23 points, including six 3-pointers, while Jackson McClemens added 19. Kaden Decker scored six as the Arrows dropped to 16-5 on the season.
Harrisburg was led by Crayton Jibben’s 19 points, Stellen Larson’s 16 and Myles Nour’s 13. David Doe added 10 points off the bench and provided a key spark when Harrisburg needed it most.
The Tigers’ third-quarter push proved decisive. After Watertown trimmed the margin to four, Doe knocked down a 3-pointer and later added another basket to help Harrisburg rebuild separation before the game turned into a free-throw contest in the closing minute.
Watertown’s final surge came after Buisker hit another 3 to make it 60-59, but Harrisburg answered with clutch foul shooting from Jibben and Larson to close out the win.