MITCHELL — White River closed out 2021 with a win over a fellow top-five team. 

The No. 3 Tigers pulled away from No. 2 Aberdeen Christian, 58-48, in a top-five nightcap during Tuesday’s Hoop City Classic at the Corn Palace. White River coach Eldon Marshall also captured his 400th career coaching victory. 

White River coach Eldon Marshall, center, holds a commemorate ball for his 400th career coaching win on Tuesday at the Corn Palace. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

The Tigers (4-1) took a five-point lead into the final quarter and they used a pair of back-to-back baskets by Joe Sayler to pull away, while they stretched out the lead at the free-throw line. 

“We finished pretty well,” said Sayler, who finished with 28 points. “I thought we executed down the stretch when we needed to and we got stops. It’s a step in the right direction for our team and something we can definitely build off of.”

Dylan Marshall added 18 points for the Tigers, while Nicholas Marshall and Gavin Folkers scored six points apiece. Folkers was thrust into the starting lineup as White River had a couple kids battling COVID. 

Folkers responded with a pair of 3-pointers and used his 6-foot-3 frame on the defensive end and to corral rebounds. 

“He embraced the opportunity of starting tonight,” Sayler said. “He stepped in and took his role and did what he did best.”

Marshall echoed Sayler’s sentiments about Folkers. 

“He stepped up big time for us,” Marshall said. “He did an outstanding job defensively and did whatever our team needed and that’s huge for him to come out and play like that. We need guys like that to step up throughout the year. … Mackenzie (Wike), too. He came in and did a great job defensively for us. It was a great team win.”

Sayler, a future South Dakota State University Jackrabbit, hit an array of acrobatic shots and soared over the top of Aberdeen Christian defenders on long-range shots. Sayler, a springy 6-foot-3 guard, hammered a two-handed jam attacking the rim in the opening moments to spark White River’s 10-2 start. 

The Knights (4-0) got within 24-20 at halftime. Aberdeen Christian, which received 15 points from Ethan Russell, briefly took a 20-19 lead in the third quarter. Malek Wieker added 12 points for the Knights, who were last year’s Class B state runner-ups.

“They are a good all-around team,” Marshall said. “We are fortunate to be able to play them in this and to see where we are at. We still have a lot to work on, but it’s a good confidence builder for us.”

White River regained the lead on two straight Sayler field goals and took a 40-35 advantage into the final quarter. The Tigers closed it out from there and handed Marshall the milestone victory.

Marshall, in his 19th season as White River’s coach, deflected all the credit to his assistant coaches, players and White River community for the 400th win. 

“It’s great, but ultimately it’s the kids,” Marshall said. “It’s also a community deal. The credit goes to the kids, for sure. That’s what it comes down to.”