HURON — The fourth quarter was closing time for the Viborg-Hurley Cougars. 

Defending champ Viborg-Hurley used an 18-4 fourth-quarter burst to secure a 52-34 Class B girls basketball semifinal win over Ethan on Friday at the Huron Arena. It sets up a chance to repeat as Class B state champs against Wall on Saturday. 

“One thing we talked about before the game is we are four quarters away from what we’ve been talking about 12 months ago where we left off,” Viborg-Hurley coach Molly Mason said. “I just told the girls four quarters and everything you’ve worked for is right back where we want it to be.”

Despite the 18-point margin, the Cougars needed a strong fourth quarter to put away the Rustlers. Viborg-Hurley was clinging to a 34-30 lead entering the final period. At the fourth quarter media timeout, Viborg-Hurley’s advantage was 39-32 and that’s when Denae Mach ignited the closing surge. 

Mach, who scored 21 points and hit four 3-pointers, tossed in a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and gave Viborg-Hurley a 41-32 advantage. The throng of Viborg-Hurley fans erupted and the Cougars scored the next eight points for a 49-32 advantage. 

“Our fans got so loud and then momentum, it gave us so much momentum and 100% we have the best fans in the state,” Mach said.

The fourth quarter stoppage also put Viborg-Hurley senior guard Coral Mason, who was sitting with four fouls, back into the game. 

“Coral got out with foul trouble and that hurts us with size,” Mach said. “For a little while it was a little messy. When they started pressing we didn’t have coral. She is our primary ball handler, but it worked out in our favor. We all took care of the ball and we all trusted each other.”

Viborg-Hurley's Coral Mason makes a move around Ethan's Leah Klock (5) to the basket during a game in the semi-finals of the Class B state tournament on Friday at the Huron Arena. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

The fourth-quarter surge was enough to lift Viborg-Hurley back into the championship game. Charley Nelson finished with 16 points and nailed four 3-pointers. Mason logged seven points and six boards. 

“It just goes to show what type of team we are made of,” Molly Mason said. “At any point anybody can step up and it makes teams really have to try to figure us out.” 

Ethan’s Ava Lingemann finished with 13 points. Ella Pollreisz and Annalise Buenning scored six points apiece. Ethan will play Wolsey-Wessington for third place.

Viborg-Hurley, meanwhile, will play Wall for the second time this season and with the stakes much higher. The Cougars handed the Eagles a 74-36 setback at the Parkston Classic, but Molly Mason expects a much tighter game. 

“Wall is a completely different team,” she said. “They are going to come out and they have so many weapons. So many different girls than I remember from the last time we played them and they are well coached, too.”