BRITTON – There was no rust after a week-long layoff for the Aberdeen Christian boys’ basketball team Monday night.
After having three games postponed last week, the third-rated Knights hit the floor with a flurry, bolting out to an early 20-point advantage on the way to a 64-27 non-conference boys’ basketball win over Britton-Hecla.
All five Christian starters scored in an opening 11-0 attack in the first four and half minutes of the contest.
“This is a really fun group with guys playing for each other,” said Knights coach Matt Rohrbach. “Jackson Isakson’s and Andrew Brennan’s energy in the first half was contagious and really sparked our big first quarter.”
Meanwhile the Braves had a difficult time, managing just five first-half points.
Malek Wieker led a balanced Christian attack with 16 points to go along with five steals. Isakson and Ethan Russell each had 11 points, and Andrew Brennan contributed nine as nine different players scored for the Knights.
“We were able to shuffle our lineups tonight and keep everybody fresh,” Rohrbach said. “I’ve never seen a group celebrate teammates’ success like these young men. I can’t be more proud of them.”
Christian finished with six three-pointers in the contest, while also attacking the rim.
“Our mindset was just to control what we can control and focus on winning each possession,” Rohrbach said.
Ty Fagerland had seven points and Landon Carlson six to lead Britton-Hecla.
The Knights will host Mobridge-Pollock at around 8 tonight at the Aberdeen Civic Arena. It will mark the first ever meeting between the two schools in boys’ basketball.
“We’re very excited about playing them. They are a quality ball club and it is always fun to play a new team,” Rohrbach said. “This will be a great game to have right before we go to Mitchell and play Lower Brule (Dec. 28).”
ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (2-0): Andrew Brennan 4 0-0 9, Ethan Russell 5 1-2 11, Jackson Isakson 5 1-1 11, Malek Wieker 7 0-0 16, Kaden Clark 2 0-0 5, Abe Holscher 2 0-0 5, Ellis Russell 1 0-0 2, Becker Bosma 0 2-2 2, Josh Schaunaman 1 0-0 3. Totals 27 4-5 64.
BRITTON-HECLA (0-2): Gage Storley 1 0-0 3, BoDell Davidson 0 1-3 1, Landon Carlson 2 0-0 6, William Schuller 1 0-2 2, Ashton Mills 1 0-0 3, Ty Fagerland 3 1-2 7, Wyatt Tosse 1 0-0 3, Dawson Treeby 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 2-7 27.
Aberdeen Christian 20 39 54 64
Britton-Hecla 2 5 19 27
3-point field goals – Brennan, Wieker 2, Clark, Holscher, Schaunaman. Total fouls – Aberdeen Christian 14; Britton-Hecla 13. Rebounds – Aberdeen Christian 25 (Brennan 4, Russell 4, Bosma 4). Turnovers – Aberdeen Christian 15. Assists – Aberdeen Christian 13 (Clark 5). Steals – Aberdeen Christian 14 (Wieker 5).
