HURON – The fifth-seeded Hamlin Chargers are headed to the Class A Boys’ State Basketball Tournament for the first time in 30 years after a 66-41 victory over 12th-seeded Madison Tuesday night at the Huron Arena.

Madison went toe-to-toe with the Chargers in the opening quarter before Easton Neuendorf tossed in a half-court 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Hamlin in front. It was all Chargers from that point on, as Hamlin led 34-23 at the half.

The Bulldogs made a small run to open the second half, opening on an 8-2 run, but that comeback effort fizzled out as Hamlin put the game out of reach with a 10-0 run to begin the fourth quarter. 

Neuendorf led the Chargers with 17 points, going 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Four of those threes came in the first quarter. Evan Stormo came off the bench for 16 points and eight rebounds, and Tyson Stevenson added 14 points.

Aiden Jensen had 18 points to lead all scorers for Madison.

Hamlin will head to Sioux Falls for the state tournament March 16-18.

MADISON (14-9): Andrew Comes 1 0-0 3, Eli Barger 1 0-0 2, Charles Callahan 4 0-0 9, Ben Brooks 4 0-0 9, Aiden Jensen 7 3-4 18. Totals 17-47 3-4 41.

HAMLIN (19-3): Easton Neuendorf 6 0-0 17, Brennan Keszler 3 0-0 6, Tyson Stevenson 4 4-6 14, Zac VanMeeteren 3 0-0 7, Evan Stormo 6 0-0 16, Jackson Wadsworth 2 0-0 6. Totals 24-51 4-6 66.

Madison 17 26 39 41

Hamlin 20 39 52 66

3-pt field goals – Madison 4-18 (Comes, Callahan, Brooks, Jensen); Hamlin 14-27 (Neuendorf 5, Stevenson 2, VanMeeteren, Stromo 4, Wadsworth 2). Total fouls – Madison 8; Hamlin 13. Rebounds – Madison 28 (Jensen 9); Hamlin 26 (Stormo 8). Turnovers – Madison 12; Hamlin 5. Assists – Madison 7 (Jensen 3); Hamlin 12 (Neuendorf 4, Stevenson 3). Steals – Madison 5; Hamlin 10 (Stormo 3).