Kernel boys stun No. 3 Watertown

Wednesday morning’s practice was not a good one for the Mitchell boys’ basketball team.

“It was a bad practice and Coach (Tom) Young said it wasn’t acceptable, so we went back in the afternoon and had a fantastic practice,” Mitchell sophomore guard Beau Brown said.

The extra work led to Mitchell defeating No. 3-ranked Watertown 54-52 in overtime Thursday night at the Corn Palace in an Eastern South Dakota Conference game. It is the second win over a ranked team this season for the Kernels (4-13, 2-9 ESD).

Brown hit a jumper from the free-throw line with about 7 seconds left in overtime to give the Kernels their final two-point advantage. After his jumper, Watertown called a timeout with 6.2 seconds left and never got a shot off before the final horn sounded.

Kernels senior forward Josh Schmidt scored his season high in points with 20. He agreed with Brown that the second practice Wednesday help transitioned into a Mitchell victory.

“We didn’t have very much intensity in that practice,” Schmidt said, referring to Wednesday morning. “We had to go back, and we needed it. It showed we needed to work harder instead of just going through the motions.”

Schmidt, who said it was the best game of his life, had eight points in the second quarter, two in the third and two three-point plays in the fourth quarter to help send the game to extra minutes.

Mitchell trailed 26-19 at halftime and 39-32 after three quarters. Watertown led by 10 late in the third, but the Kernels outscored the Arrows 16-9 in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Schmidt’s three-point play with 5:45 left started an 11-2 run that tied the game at 43, which was when Schmidt had his second three-point play of the quarter. Mitchell’s Seth Cavanaugh, who returned from a five-game absence because of a concussion, knocked down a deep 3-pointer with 2:22 to go, pushing the Kernels ahead for the first time since early in the first quarter.

Both teams exchanged baskets, and Watertown had a chance to take the lead with 9.4 to play but Tanner Heiser hit only one of two free throws to tie the game at 48. From there, neither team got a shot before the end of regulation.

Schmidt had four points in the extra four minutes and Brown’s shot put the Kernels ahead.

“What we wanted to do is spread them out and penetrate,” Young said, referring to the final shot. “We probably went a couple seconds early, but he hit the shot so I’m happy.”

Cavanaugh knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points and seven rebounds and Brown had 10 for the Kernels, who committed only 10 turnovers to Watertown’s 22. Mitchell, which defeated then-fourth ranked Brandon Valley on Jan. 8, was 23-of-53 from the field and was outrebounded 31-26.

The difference was Schmidt, though, who got the start because of a good week in practice, according to Young.

“He played the game of his life,” Young said.

Watertown was led by Brody Ries’ 14 points. He was 4-of-4 from behind the 3-point line, while Heiser added 10 points.

Mitchell broke free from a six-game losing streak that dated back to the upset win over Brandon Valley. The Kernels will try and ride Thursday’s big win in another ESD Conference game against Aberdeen at 7:30 p.m. today on the road.

MITCHELL 54, WATERTOWN 52 (OT)

MHS (4-13, 2-9 ESD)

Cole Morgan 1-6 0-0 2, Zach Moen 1-3 0-0 2, Seth Cavanaugh 4-13 0-0 11, Beau Brown 5-11 0-0 10, Josh Schmidt 9-12 2-3 20, Jared Schmidt 2-6 0-0 5, Ethan Jones 1-2 2-2 4, Evan Mastel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-53 4-5 54.

WHS (10-5, 7-3)

Tanner Heiser 3-10 2-4 10, Trevor Jutting 3-6 0-2 6, Jess Poppen 3-10 0-0 7, Brody Ries 5-5 0-0 14, Harrison Jones 2-3 0-2 4, Cole Julius 1-1 0-0 2, Nate Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Landen Mack 2-5 4-4 9. Totals: 19-42 6-12 52.

3-point goals: MHS 4-16 (Cavanaugh 3, Ja. Schmidt), WHS 8-20 (Ries 4, Heiser 2, Poppen, Mack). Rebounds: MHS 26 (Cavanaugh 7), WHS 31 (Mack 11). Assists: MHS 11 (Brown 6). Turnovers: MHS 10, WHS 22. Total fouls: MHS 9, WHS 15. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.

JV: Watertown 45-35; Mitchell’s Derek Miller and Neil Schlimgen each had eight points.

Sophomore: Mitchell 55-44; Tyler Houwman had 18 points for the Kernels and Kanin Nelson had 13 points.

Freshmen: Watertown 57-44; Mitchell’s Denver McFarlane had 15 points.

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