(Gettysburg, SD) – It came down to the final play…
Call from Wyatt Burichka heard on Country 95.3 and for the first time in a long time (six years), the Sully Buttes Chargers are traveling to Aberdeen for the Class B state basketball tournament in a wild finish from Gettysburg Tuesday night 42-40 against Durpee. Sully Buttes punched their ticket on a game winning put back shot from Wesley Wittler to send the Chargers back to the state tournament.
The game never had a leading double digit lead. Five lead changes, and four ties occurred in Tuesday nights 8-9 seed SODAK 16 contest. In a tough physical, loud, suspenseful contest, it was the lowest scoring game of the season for Sully Buttes. The first half was a half of small runs and attacks to the rim. While the Tigers struck first, the Chargers took the late first quarter lead. Sully Buttes added 12 more in the second capping the half on a Jett Yackley three to extend the Chargers lead to four. A four point lead would be the largest for the Chargers on the night.
The second half produce exactly same results in the first half. Dupree outscored the Chargers 24-22, but whoever had the ball last, had the chance to win it. Tigers Tre White Wolf would have a big second half scoring 13 points which was all the scoring he did in the game. White Wolf and Wittler would have the scoring battle having a combined 28 points with Wittler edging it 15-13. However, a 16 point third quarter outing from the Dupree Tigers gave them a 32-30 lead going into the final eight minutes.
The three pointers were flying in the fourth quarter with four made three starting the final eight minutes. A combined seven shots from the field were made in the four quarter. The final stretch of this game, key turnovers occurred with the one of the biggest in the final minutes including a steal from White Wolf underneath giving them an easy lay up to tie the game at 40. With Sully Buttes missing their next shot in the final two possessions for them in the game, Dupree had chance to get the go ahead back with under 20 seconds to go. The Tigers went we a three and would miss it out of bounce with 10 seconds to go. The Chargers would have to go the full length of the court to give themselves a chance to win it. Wittler would give it off to Yackley who would give it right back to Wittler on the cut, with just seconds to go, Wesley would miss the first shot. Instincts and no panic showed for Wittler grabbing the missed shot and putting right back up with the clock expiring. Bucket, game, madness! Wittler says he knew his coach had confidence in him to make the shot…
The game winner from Wesley Wittler send the Sully Buttes Chargers to the Class B state tournament in Aberdeen next Thursday-Saturday. Wittler finished the night with 19 points, Yackley with 13, Easton Moore with 6, Gavin Colson added four on the night. It’s the first time for senior Wittler he will get to play in Aberdeen, but not the first time he was on the bench…
Brian White, head coach of the Sully Buttes Chargers says this has been a four year process…
Sully Buttes will be the number seven seed and will take on Freeman the opening round at 5 p.m. at the Barnett Center. Country 95.3 will have coverage of the Chargers in Aberdeen all state tournament long on Country 95.3 and online at Country 95.3 Sports on YouTube.
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