HOWARD — Not many teams lose two college basketball players and are sitting 13-2 midway through the season. But that’s exactly what the Howard boys basketball team has done. 

The Tigers graduated two all-staters and current Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball players, Sam Aslesen and Tisyn Spader, from last season’s 19-4 team. 

But despite losing a combined 37.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game from the duo, Howard has racked up 13 wins as the postseason inches closer.   

“I am a little bit surprised as far as wins and losses go,” Howard coach Nick Koespell said. “But I did expect this time of year to be playing some good ball and make a push toward the postseason.”

The Tigers did return three players with starting experience and they start four players 6-foot-2 or taller. Seniors Jace Sifore and Brayden Hinker, along with junior Ryder Erickson have years of varsity starting experience. Sifore, a 6-foot-4, 250-pounder, is averaging 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. The future South Dakota State University football player is a four-year starter. 

Hinker, a 6-foot-2 senior, averages 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while knocking down 41 3-pointers this season. A 5-foot-8 junior point guard, Erickson (7.4 ppg/4 apg/3.4 spg) initiates the offense and provides steady defense for the Tigers.

Six-foot-7 sophomore Kolt Koepsell averages a team-high 13.3 points per game, while collecting 7.3 rebounds per game. Koepsell, a transfer from McCook Central/Montrose, is shooting 57 percent from the field. Luke Koespell, a 6-foot-3 freshman and Nick’s son, chips in with 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Sophomores Taiden Hoyer (2.4 ppg/2.4 rpg) and Will Maier (3.4 ppg/2 apg) are top reserves. 

Howard coach Nick Koepsell talks with Will Maier at the DSU Classic earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The size in the starting lineup gives Howard defensive versatility and the rebounding edge on most nights. The Tigers are holding their opponents to 40.9 points per game this season. 

“When we roll that starting lineup out there we’ve been playing a lot of zone and our length has been really effective,” coach Koepsell said. “We’ve been rebounding the ball well. We’ve been pretty effective with our defense this year with that starting lineup.”

The Tigers two losses were against Class A McCook Central/Montrose (57-51) and Class B No. 1 De Smet (59-38). After the loss against De Smet, the Tigers have clicked off eight straight wins, including three in a row over Hanson (50-41), Bridgewater-Emery (49-42) and Ethan (49-46). 

“We kind of turned the corner,” coach Koepsell said about the three-game stretch. “We beat three really good teams and they were pretty close games and we kind of pulled away in the end. It’s nice to see our guys can do that in those close games.”

Howard, which is honorable mention in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll, has also been tested in a pair of classics. The Tigers defeated Freeman Academy/Marion (56-53) in the Hoop City Classic and Wakpala (59-49) in the Dakota State University Classic.

“We know our schedule is going to be tough, which is what we want,” coach Koepsell said. “We want to be battle tested when we get to the postseason and we’ve pulled out a couple close games.”

The schedule has bolstered Howard’s seed points, too. The Tigers are No. 10 overall in Class B and No. 1 in Region 4B with 44.133 points. Howard can strengthen its grip on the region with its final four games. 

The Tigers play current Region 4B No. 2 seed Dell Rapids St. Mary, which has 43.375 points, tonight in Howard. They will then play Class B No. 4 Aberdeen Christian (14-2) at Saturday’s DWU/Culver’s Classic in Salem. Howard then plays at current Region 4B No. 3 seed Canistota (10-5) and hosts Viborg-Hurley (10-5) on Thursday next week. 

“It’s all right there in front of us,” coach Koepsell said. “I would rather play good games at the end of the season that are going to get you battle tested for the postseason and it starts with Dell Rapids St. Mary on Thursday.”