Brandon Valley came out on the attack and Aberdeen Central had no answers for one of the top Class AA girls’ basketball teams.
The third-rated Lynx held Central to just two points in the opening seven minutes, created 27 turnovers and rolled to a 52-24 Eastern South Dakota Conference victory at Golden Eagles Arena.
Brandon Valley (9-1) was relentless with its full-court pressure, which set the tone for the contest.
“That’s just who we want to be. We’re trying to develop our identity at this point in the season, too,” said Lynx coach and Aberdeen native Mike Zerr. “We’re kind of in that middle third of games where we’ve kind of established some roles, now we’re trying to identify kind of where we’re at with things and then continue to accelerate towards the end of the season. Our team is one that really wants to get up and down. We want to push tempo. We want to play hard and we had some opportunities to do that tonight.”
The visitors had a height advantage at nearly every spot on the floor, which made life difficult in multiple ways for the Golden Eagles. For starters, Central had a tough time getting into its offense. Once it did, the twin-post attack Central has gone to recently was negated. Plus, Central’s smaller guards had a difficult time seeing over the top of their defenders.
“They’re big inside and that’s a challenge for us,” said Central coach Mikayla Arechigo, “but they’re also big on the outside which is really challenging for our 5-2 and 5-5 and 5-6 guards to really find any type of connection with those posts.”
The end result was just nine total field goals for the Eagles in the game.
Meanwhile, Brandon Valley was able to get the ball inside where they finished around the rim. The Lynx also nailed seven three-pointers when Central played some zone defense.
“You go back and forth trying to decide whether you want to match up with them or go zone,” Arechigo said, “but when you’re facing a team that shoots like that, you really have to decide are you going to play it inside out or give that up on the outside, and it’s kind of unfortunate that it looks like we kind of gave up both tonight.”
Hilary Behrens led the Lynx with 13 points, Kennedi Deckert followed with nine and Kylie Foss had eight.
It has been an emotional weekend for Brandon Valley. The Lynx were coming off a hard-fought one-point win over Pierre on Friday night combined with the news that longtime teacher and coach Chad Garrow lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
“Whether they know it or not, its effecting them in that way,” Zerr said. “I give our kids a lot of credit. We have got a lot of mature kids in our locker room.”
Zerr said the outpouring of care and support from people across the entire state has been very special.
“Seeing the scope of how people reach out and how we take care of people here makes you really thankful to live and get to play a game in South Dakota,” Zerr said.
Grace Kuch’s five points led a balanced attack for Central.
The Eagles, 1-11 on the season, host Pierre on Tuesday at Golden Eagles Arena.
Arechigo said her players need to come together to turn things around.
“Our kids are going to have to find ways to grow up and find ways to win, and really come together and find some combinations that are going to work. I think that part of it is right now we’re trying to figure out what we can do individually to make the team successful and really it’s more like what can I do to help my teammates help our team?” Arechigo said. “We really have to find a way to help each other help the team instead of just playing one-on-one and thinking that our shots are going to be the ones that make the difference.”
BRANDON VALLEY (9-1): Tessa Bowar 2 0-0 6, Kylie Foss 4 0-0 8, Hilary Behrens 5 2-2 13, Sidney Thue 3 0-0 6, Jaida Metzger 1 1-2 3, Kennedi Deckert 3 0-0 9, Madison Giever 1 0-0 2, Paisley Hoff 1 0-0 3, Rachael Spencer 1 0-0 2. Totals 21-55 3-4 52.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL (1-11): Kyra Griese 0 4-4 4, Karly Wellman 2 0-0 4, Kiana Mounga 2 0-2 4, Taryn Hermansen 0 0-3 0, Madi Struble 1 2-2 4, Sydney Evans 1 0-0 2, Ayrlie Waldo 0 1-2 1, Abby Berry 0 0-1 0, Grace Kuch 2 1-2 5. Totals 8-33 8-16 24.
Brandon Valley 16 25 44 52
Aberdeen Central 4 9 15 24
3-point field goals – Bowar 2, Behrens, Deckert 3, Hoff. Total fouls – Brandon Valley 16; Aberdeen Central 10. Rebounds – Brandon Valley 27 (Foss 6, Thue 6); Aberdeen Central 37 (Hermansen 10). Turnovers – Brandon Valley 10; Aberdeen Central 27. Assists – Brandon Valley 7; Aberdeen Central 3. Steals – Brandon Valley 17 (Foss 4, Metzger 4); Aberdeen Central 8.
