Aberdeen, SD (MITCHELLNOW) The Howard Tigers were looking for their first State Boys Basketball Championship since 1964 when they tangled with the three-time defending State Champs in the DeSmet Bulldogs Saturday night in Aberdeen. The game was a back-and-forth battle and with 1.2 seconds remaining Luke Koepsell hit a shot underneath to give Howard a 52-50 lead only to see the Bulldogs toss a full-length pass and hit the game tying shot as the horn sounded and sent the game into overtime. Howard would not hit a field goal in overtime, instead they made a couple of stops, collected a huge offensive rebound and hit 8 of 10 from the free throw line in overtime and the Howard Tigers beat DeSmet 60-55 to win the State Class B Championship.
Kolt Koepsell had yet another double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds followed by Luke Koepsell with 16 points and four assists for Howard who finished the season 23-3 overall and finished the year winning 16 games in a row and avenged an earlier 10-point loss at home to DeSmet during the regular season.
Both Koepsell’s were named to the Class B All-Tourney Team and the Howard Cheerleaders were named the Spirit of Six winners as well.