WATERTOWN – The defending state champs are back in the State A tournament field.

Hamlin showed once again why it is one of the premier teams in the state with a 64-30 win over Milbank during a SoDak 16 boys’ basketball contest Tuesday night at the Watertown Civic Arena.

“They’ve got so many weapons where they can attack you, whether it be in the realm of cutting and finishing at the rim, guards posting up and then obviously shooting,” said Milbank coach Logan Diede. “But I think what really makes them next level elite is their on-ball defense. They make it extremely hard to get into your actions.”

That defensive effort is non-negotiable for the Chargers, who allowed Milbank just one double-digit quarter the entire contest.

“The constant was our defense,” said Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf. “We’ve been that way all year.”

It’s what helped the Chargers to win the state championship a year ago.

“You have to be able to play defense in the state tournament,” Neuendorf said, “because shots go awry and points become a premium.”

Milbank trailed just 8-7 early in the game, before Hamlin’s defense allowed the Chargers to break the game open in the second period.

“It’s a SoDak game, so there’s a lot of energy, a lot of nerves,” said Hamlin senior Evan Stormo. “We just had to get those out and play free.”

And once the Chargers started playing free, there was no stopping them. They feature potent scorers at every spot on the floor, making it difficult for opposing defenses.

“We all can score. We know that,” Stormo said. “So, we just move the ball, space, and let everybody do their thing.”

Hamlin put five players in double-figure scoring with a variety of drives, cuts, and efficient shooting as the Chargers shot 64 percent from the field.

“You’ve got to be on your toes, you’ve got to have good help defense, and just get into the gaps and try to stop them,” said Milbank senior Emmett Hanson.

And even then, it’s a difficult task trying to slow down a team that features a bit of everything.

“They can hit you from every angle and they do that every game out, and that’s why they’re in the situation they are again,” Diede said. “Credit to them.”

The game may have played out a bit differently than a previous Hamlin victory over the Bulldogs earlier in the season, but the results were still the same.

“Give them a lot of credit,” Neuendorf said. “They came out with a plan and they played us totally different than they did up there, and we knew they would.”

However, with an offense that features constant movement and spacing, it’s just a matter of time before the Chargers are able to locate a high-percentage shot.

“That’s all we do in practice, 15 minutes of motion every day,” Stormo said. “If you stand, you’re getting yelled at, so always moving.”

Hanson finished with 12 points in his final game with Milbank. The standout hurdler in track and field, was pleased with how the basketball season played out.

“It was a great season,” Hanson said. “Coming into the season losing four seniors last year, four starters, it was going to be rough and personally I didn’t think we’d go as far as we did.”

Easton Neuendorf lead Hamlin with 13 points, Jackson Wadsworth followed with 12, and Stormo, Zac VanMeeteren, and Boden Stevenson each finished with 10.

The Chargers, 20-2, will enter next week’s State A tourney as the second seed and face Hill City in the opening round at 6 p.m. Sioux Falls Christian is the top-seeded team.

“We don’t want to be the favorite. I don’t think we’re the favorite,” Coach Neuendorf said. “I think Sioux Falls Christian’s the favorite and that’s OK.”

The Chargers plan to continue doing what has gotten them to state tournament again.

“Most of us have been there already,” Stormo said, “so we just got to come out and play defense, move the ball, share it, good things will happen.”

MILBANK (12-11): Sam Rick 2 1-2 5, Jack Howard 2 0-0 4, Emmett Hanson 5 2-3 12, Ryan Keeton 1 0-0 2, Esteban Abrego 1 0-0 2, Charlie Peery 1 0-0 2, Layten Osowski 1 0-0 2. Totals 13-38 3-5 30.

HAMLIN (20-2): Easton Neuendorf 5 2-3 13, Evan Stormo 5 0-0 10, Jackson Wadsworth 5 0-0 12, Dawson Noem 2 0-0 5, Zac VanMeeteren 5 0-2 10, Boden Stevenson 4 0-0 10, Ted Smith 1 0-0 2, Jack Stormo 1 0-0 2. Totals 28-44 2-5 64.

Milbank 11 28 22 30

Hamlin 19 36 57 64

3-point field goals – Peery; Neuendorf, Wadsworth 2, Noem, Stevenson 2. Total fouls – Milbank 12; Hamlin 10. Rebounds – Milbank 14; Hamlin 23 (Wadsworth 4, VanMeeteren 4). Turnovers – Milbank 19; Hamlin 6. Assists – Milbank 10; Hamlin 22 (Neuendorf 8, Stormo 5). Blocked shots – Milbank 0; Hamlin 4 (VanMeeteren 3). Steals – Milbank 2 (Rick 2); Hamlin 14 (Neuendorf 5).