ABERDEEN — Howard won the battle of the Tigers and is headed to the big one.

Howard outlasted White River, 48-42, in a Class B boys basketball semifinal thriller and secured a spot in the most coveted Class B game of them.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Howard coach Nick Koepsell said. “When you play high school basketball in South Dakota, you want to play Saturday night at the Bs and to play for a state championship is the best feeling in the world.”

Howard (22-3) will play for its first state championship since 1995, when it was in Class A. 

“Excited and not many words can explain how excited I am,” Howard senior Kolt Koepsell said.

Howard earned a spot in the championship game, knocking off perennial power White River (22-3) in a physical semifinal tilt at an electric Wachs Arena. 

“It was very physical,” said Kolt Koepsell, who logged 10 points and 15 rebounds. “It was very hard and very tough for us defensively and offensively.”

Carson Hinker scored 11 points. Taiden Hoyer and Luke Koepsell added 10 points apiece for the balanced Tigers.

But their defense lifted them into the state championship. White River’s Nic Marshall finished with 20 points on 5 of 16 shooting from the field and 10 of 14 at the free-throw line. Jordan Uhlir added 16 points and seven rebounds. 

But the rest of the team combined for six points and White River finished 0-of-6 from the 3-point line. 

“We knew we were going to have to give them the 3-point shot to be quite honest with you,” Nick Koepsell said. “Because they are so good at putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim. So we kind of sagged off a couple of the guys and they only shot six of them. Any little help we can get with the basketball Gods with 3-pointers not going in, we will take it.”

Luke Koepsell, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, drew the defensive assignment of defending Marshall, a 1,000-point scorer and all-stater. 

“We thought maybe putting a little length on him would work and I think it did for the most part,” Nick Koepsell said. “I know there in the third quarter he got to the foul line a bunch. That was one of our game plans too was don’t foul him and give him easy points from the free-throw line, but that’s easier said than done. He’s a first team all-stater for a reason, but I just thought putting a guy with a little bit more length. Luke is a strong kid. He’s a good defender. I thought we did a great job tonight.”

Howard trailed 34-28 with 1:13 left in the third quarter. But used a 12-6 run for a 40-38 lead with 4:20 left. 

Howard converted at the free-throw line down the stretch, converting on 8-of-10 trips in the final 3 1/2 minutes. White River, meanwhile, converted on three field goals in the fourth quarter and Marshall was saddled with four fouls in the final frame. 

Marshall’s field goal got White River within 45-42 with 12 seconds left, but Colby Claussen and Taiden Hoyer combined for three free throws to ice the win. 

White River will play Castlewood for third place on Saturday.

Howard will play De Smet for the state championship on Saturday.