Golden Eagles hold off Bobcats for 53-47 win

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BROOKINGS – The Golden Eagles hung on to win a close Eastern South Dakota Conference matchup with the Bobcats on Tuesday night.

Leading by 10 – 44-34 – with 5:21 to play, Aberdeen Central allowed the ‘Cats to close within a point with less than 3 minutes to play before pulling away for a 53-47 win.

“I told the kids in the locker room that I’m torn – proud of the effort; proud of the perseverance that we showed – but it was just some of the little things – a couple of bad turnovers that led to easy baskets for them; the lack of communication where we had to foul and then gave up the layup – that’s six points there, so who knows,” said BHS head coach Travis Engebretson. “Extremely proud of the effort that the kids gave tonight – we battled.

“That’s a pretty good team in the other locker room, so it’s a step in the right direction – we just have to come to practice (Wednesday) and get better.”

The ‘Cats struggled with foul trouble as junior Drew Cole spent a large portion of the second half on the bench with four fouls.

When he did return to the floor, he scored 12 straight points for the home team on three 3-pointers, with an old-fashioned three-point play mixed in, to pull Brookings within 47-46 with 2:42 left.

The Eagles answered when Cole Bergan scored in the lane at the 1:04 mark and then drained two free throws with 52 seconds on the clock to make it 51-46.

A Riley Schafer free throw got the ‘Cats within 51-47 but Central broke the ensuing full-court press with a long pass to Jonah Dohrer, whose layup with 13 seconds remaining accounted for the final margin.

Brookings did own a substantial 38-27 edge in rebounds, which included 16 offensive boards, but the physical Eagle defense held the Bobcats to just 18-of-55 (33 percent) from the floor and gave up just two points from the foul line, compared to 12-of-16 free throws for Aberdeen Central.

Cole led the Bobcats, 2-4 and 2-4 in the conference, with 14 points and eight boards.

Bergan and Nathan Rook each scored 13 points to lead the Eagles, who improved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the ESD. Bergan tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds as Dohrer finished with 11 points.

On Friday, Brookings travels to Pierre and Aberdeen Central plays host to Harrisburg. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. for both contests.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL 53, BROOKINGS 47

Aberdeen Central (4-5, 3-2 ESD)

Collin Stoebner 2-4 1-1 5, Cole Bergan 3-8 6-8 13, Nathan Rook 5-11 0-1 13, Jonah Dohrer 5-8 0-0 11, Brandon Kusler 0-0 1-2 1, Mason Flakus 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Bergan 1-6 4-4 7, Brandon Fauth 0-3 0-0 0, Jordan Schaidt 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 17-42 12-16 53.

Brookings (2-4, 2-4 ESD)

Seth Swedlund 2-2 0-0 4, Drew Cole 5-13 1-1 14, Riley Schafer 2-5 1-2 5, Trevor Woodall 3-12 0-0 8, Josh Sell 3-12 0-0 8, Jay Wilber 1-3 0-0 3, Trent Broksieck 2-3 0-0 6, Eric Sell 1-1 0-0 2, Ryan McMacken 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 18-55 2-3 47.

Aberdeen Central 16    8  12  17  –  53

Brookings   9  14    9  15  –  47

3-point goals – AC 7-18 (Rook 3-6, C. Bergan 1-2, Dohrer 1-2, Schnaidt 1-2, A. Bergan 1-4, Fauth 0-2), B 9-22 (Cole 3-6, Broksieck 2-3, Sell 2-5, Woodall 1-3, Wilber 1-3, McMacken 0-2). Rebounds – AC 27 (C. Bergan 8), B 38 (Cole 8). Assists – AC 8 (Rook 3), B 12 (McMacken 4). Steals – AC 9 (C. Bergan 3), B 6 (Sell 2). Blocks – AC 6 (A. Bergan 3), B 2 (Swedlund, Cole 1). Turnovers – AC 16, B 17. Total fouls – AC 12, B 19. Fouled out – Swedlund. Technical fouls – none.

Junior Varsity

Aberdeen Central 51, Brookings 35

Points – Trent Broksieck 9, Jay Wilber 9, Carson Gullickson 8. Rebounds – Eternal Tooley 12. Steals – Eternal Tooley 3.

Sophomore

Aberdeen Central 51, Brookings 45

Points – Parker Rhykus 11, Nick Schefers 8, Tanner Shepardson 8. Rebounds – Theo Burns 8. Assists – Jonah Dobbs 3. Steals – Theo Burns 3.