Aberdeen Central got off to solid start; Rapid City Central produced a stellar finish.

The Cobblers held the hosts to just three total field goals in the final 25 minutes on the way to a 51-28 non-conference girls’ basketball victory at Golden Eagles Arena Friday night.

The local Central jumped out to a 15-11 lead in the opening period before the offense dried up. The Eagles managed just 13 points the remainder of the game, frustrated by the length of the taller Rapid City foes.

“We had some good looks against that zone. We got the looks that we wanted, but it’s hard for our guards right now to see those angles with the length that Rapid City had at that guard spot,” said Aberdeen coach Mikayla Arechigo. “When we have 5-5, 5-5, 5-2 out there and they’ve got 6-2, 6-foot and 5-8, 5-8, 5-8.”

The Cobblers were suffocating enough in their half-court defense, but then switched to a trapping zone in the second half and totally took control.

“We switched things up. We went from our man to our zone and went to our zone press in the full court, and our kids just really seemed to move and flow and rotated really, really well out of it,” said Rapid City coach Allan Bertram. “We really packed it in the paint well. We only got hurt a couple of times on seals. Our backside rotation was really good on our defensive side tonight.”

Meanwhile, the RCC offense got going to start the second period when Sadie Glade hit back-to-back three-point field goals. She finished with four treys in all on the way to 17 points.

“She’s just an outstanding shooter,” Bertram said. “She shot 42 percent from the three-point line last year for us as a junior. When she gets going, she doesn’t have a conscious.”

Josie Hill also had 17 points. The 6-2 post player made a pair of three-pointers in the contest.

“One of the best things that happened in this off season is Josie Hill really spent time developing her perimeter game,” Bertram said. “Last year she was strictly a post player. Tonight she stepped out and hit a couple of threes. It just makes it that much more difficult to guard her when she can go inside and outside.”

Aberdeen Central was led by Kiana Mounga with nine points.

The Eagles, who trailed by just six points at the half, shot just 21 percent from the field in the game.

“We knew going into the season that scoring was going to be a difficult thing for us when you look at the seniors that graduated and the scoring production that they took with them,” Arechigo said. “Wer’e going to have to find ways to score.”

The Eagles will be back at it today facing Rapid City Stevens at 3 p.m. at the Civic Arena. The game will be played at the legendary facility because of the Hub City Invitational Gymnastics Meet at Golden Eagles Arena.

“I think the girls are pretty excited about that. The Arena is a neat place to play, a fun venue,” Arechigo said. “I hope the girls are ready to go and I think they will be. I think they were frustrated with their second half, so I think they’re excited that they don’t have to think about it very long and get to come back and play the next day.”

RAPID CITY CENTRAL: Amarae Rinto 1 1-2 4, Aaliyah Jones 1 2-2 4, Josie Hill 6 3-4 17, Sadie Glade 6 1-2 17, Denna Smith 1 0-0 2, Wicahpi Cuny 0 4-6 4, Telia Jiron 0 0-2 0, Marissa Cadotte 0 3-6 3. Totals 15-40 14-24 51.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Taryn Hettich 1 2-4 4, Kyra Griese 0 3-4 3, Karly Wellman 0 4-4 4, Kiana Mounga 4 1-3 9, Madi Weig 0 1-2 1, Anna Malchow 1 0-0 2, Taryn Hermansen 1 3-4 5. Totals 7-34 14-21 28.

Rapid City Central 11 26 37 51

Aberdeen Central 15 20 24 28

3-point field goals – Rinto, Hill 2, Glade 4. Fouled out – Abby Berry. Total fouls – Rapid City Central 17; Aberdeen Central 19. Rebounds – Rapid City Central 28 (Hill 9); Aberdeen Central 29 (Berry 7). Turnovers – Rapid City Central 14; Aberdeen Central 24. Assists – Rapid City Central 12 (Rinto 4); Aberdeen Central 2. Steals – Rapid City Central 13 (Glade 3); Aberdeen Central 8 (Griese 3).