In big-game situations, there is simply no substitute for big-game experience.

Aberdeen Christian relied on its senior leadership down the stretch to grab a 57-47 win over Ethan during the opening round of the Class B Boys’ State Basketball Tournament at Wachs Arena Thursday night.

The Knights, who have qualified for the past four state tourneys, had watched their 16-point lead get sliced down to six points in the closing minutes, but managed to halt both the momentum and the Rustlers to secure the victory.

“It’s state tournament time. Ethan made their little run. That’s going to happen in a state tournament,” said Christian senior Malek Wieker. “Look at the crowd here tonight. It was packed, it was loud. Players go off that energy. Unfortunately, they got a lot more energy in that 4-5 minute stretch, but then again back on our team, it just shows the experience. This is our fourth straight year. We’ve got six seniors on this team and I’m willing to go to bat with them any day of the week.”

Ethan eventually closed the deficit down to 51-47 with 52.5 seconds left before Christian made six straight foul shots – four by Wieker and two by Jackson Isakson – to seal the deal.

Christian opened up a double-digit lead in the second quarter and eventually stretched it to 40-24 on a 3-pointer by Andrew Brennan with 3:29 left in the third quarter. However, the offense soon started drying up as the Rustlers inched closer and their fan base grew louder.

“You’ve got teams coming in with excitement and juice, and the atmosphere and their fans are pushing them on,” said Christian coach Matt Rohrbach, “so you never quite feel comfortable until you finish the basketball game and you hear the last buzzer. But credit to the guys, you have to win with rebounds and free-throws and that’s what we did at the end there.”

Wieker said players on the squad put in extra time for situations just like that.

“I love the late game, close game scenarios,” Wieker said. “That shows the early mornings, late nights. A lot of people don’t see that. They don’t see the late hours, the behind the scenes.”

The Knights needed to make key plays at both ends, because the Rustlers, who have not been to the tourney since 2014, overcame a slow start and picked up their energy level.

“Our defense got better as the evening wore on. It was fanastic, but against good teams you can’t score 15 points in a half,” said Ethan coach Bryce Roth. “We just weren’t patient enough on offense to start that first half. A little bit of jitters, but a lot of execution issues. And then even at the end there, we could have cut it even closer and probably taken a lead if we just execute a lot better on certain situations.”

Instead, it was a group of seniors for Christian who responded to the challenge and moved into the semifinals for the second time in three years.

“Having five guys on the basketball floor that want the basketball, guys like Kaden Clark and Andrew Brennan, wanting the basketball at the end there, willing to shoot free throws, willing to shoot a layup or that last shot at the end of a shot clock,” Rohrbach said, “that’s what you need and that experience, having five seniors on the floor, it’s definitely exciting to have as a first-year head coach.”

Riley Endres scored 16 points, Kody Klumb 16 and Drake Gustafson 10 for the Rustlers. Ethan (20-4) faces Viborg-Hurley in consolation action at 1:45 this afternoon.

Wieker finished with 15 points and Ethan Russell 11 for the Knights.

Rohrbach pointed out the play of reserves Joey Johnson and Konnar Furman who combined for 13 first-half points to stake Christian to a double-digit lead. He said the two players are emotional leaders for the squad.

“They bark in the locker room,” Rohrbach said. “They’re juice bringers and they’re positive guys.”

The Knights (22-2) will take on two-time defending state champion De Smet in the semifinals tonight at 7:45 in a rematch of the state title game two years ago.

Rohrbach said his team’s desire was on display in the first-round victory.

“They want the lights. They want that semifinal, championship game,” Rohrbach said. “Credit to the guys for doing what it takes to win.”

ETHAN (20-4): Riley Endres 5 6-8 16, Kody Klumb 6 0-1 15, Taite Klub 2 0-0 4, Wyatt Sinkie 1 0-0 2, Drake Gustafson 3 4-6 10. Totals 17-51 10-15 47.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (22-2): Andrew Brennan 1 0-0 3, Jackson Isakson 2 2-2 7, Ethan Russell 5 0-0 13, Malek Wieker 4 4-4 15, Kaden Clark 3 0-0 6, Konnar Furman 2 0-0 5, Joey Johnson 3 2-3 8. Totals 20-49 8-9 57.

Ethan 9 15 30 47

Aberdeen Christian 15 25 44 57

3-point field goals – Ethan 3-11 (K. Klumb 3); Aberdeen Christian 9-23 (Brennan, Isakson, Russell 3, Wieker 3, Furman). Fouled out – T. Klumb; Russell. Total fouls – Ethan 16; Aberdeen Christian 18. Rebounds – Ethan 32 (Endres 10, Sinkie 9); Aberdeen Christian 35 (Isakson 9, Johnson 8). Turnovers – Ethan 12; Aberdeen Christian 16. Assists – Ethan 9 (Endres 4); Aberdeen Christian 13 (Clark 4, Brennan 3). Blocked shots – 3 (Gustafson 2); Aberdeen Christian 1. Steals – Ethan 4; Aberdeen Christian 3.