HURON — Aberdeen Christian was motivated to get back to Wachs Arena, and it accomplished it Tuesday.

The Knights advanced to the Class B state boys basketball tournament, pulling away from Lyman for a 64-46 boys basketball in the SoDak 16 at the Huron Arena.

For Aberdeen Christian, it is headed back to where it finished as last year’s Class B state runner-ups. 

“The night I lost the state championship all I ever wanted to do was get there,” Aberdeen Christian guard Malek Wieker said. “It’s a great feeling right now.”

Wieker, who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, said the road back to Wachs Arena started after last season’s state championship defeat. 

“The Monday after we lost we were back in the weight room and ready to go,” Wieker said. “So this is really good for us to get back there.”

Ethan Russell added 15 points for the Knights (20-3). Andrew Brennan contributed 12 points. Kaden Clark added 11 points, while Jackson Isakson dropped 10 points for the Knights. 

Lyman's Sam McClahanan goes up for a shot against Aberdeen Christian at the Huron Arena on Tuesday. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

For Lyman (16-7), three players reached double figures with Sam McClanahan leading the way with 12 points. Colton Collins added 11 with Issac Thomas contributing 10 points. 

In the opening quarter, the teams combined for seven made field goals and a 9-9 tie after eight minutes. In the second quarter, Aberdeen Christian used a 24-15 surge to take a 33-24 lead into the break. 

“SoDak 16 is a big game,” Wieker said. “Players don’t have a ton of experience with this. So you could say it was nerves and in the second quarter I think we were just buckled down and locked in.” 

In the second quarter, the Knights broke away from a 20-20 tie and hit three 3-pointers in the final 3:15 to help secure a 33-24 halftime lead. Aberdeen Christian’s Kaden Clark nailed a 3-pointer as the second-quarter buzzer expired to cap the surge.

“Andrew Brennan really stepped up,” Wieker said. “He’s not really known as a 3-point shooter or pull-up game, but he hit some big shots and so did Kaden Clark.”

The Knights shot 50 percent in the second half, extending their lead into double figures on their way to another state tourney berth. Aberdeen Christian led 54-34 after the third quarter. 

The Knights will be the No. 5 seed and play No. 4 Potter County in the opener on March 17. The Knights handed the Battlers a 61-56 defeat earlier in the season.