The Aberdeen Central boys’ basketball team is prepared to push the pace this season.

While playing an up-tempo style is nothing new for the Golden Eagles, that style will be even more prominent this campaign.

“We always kind of want to do that, but we’re going to have to do that even more,” said Central coach Brent Norberg. “We’re very small.”

What the squad lacks in size, it will make up with guard play on the perimeter.

“We have some physical kids, we have some athletic kids that can play bigger than they are, but you look at us, we’re not going to look like a big, physically imposing team,” Norberg said. “What we do have is a lot of guards who can shoot the ball and handle the ball. These guys really pass the ball well. They look for each other. Sometimes the passes are perfect and sometimes they’re not, but they’re always looking for the next best play.”

That guard group is led by senior Spencer Barr, who has been on the varsity the past two years. He missed a share of the season last year when he suffered a broken wrist.

“He’s a great player and everyone will always say that, but what people don’t know is how good a kid he is. He’s an even better kid,” Norberg said. “Anything we ask him to do he does it. He’s a great leader. He leads by example. He totally buys into everything we’re doing.”

And when Barr has the ball in his hands, good things happen for the Golden Eagles.

“He’s the kind of kid that can make other guys better,” Norberg said, “and he does that.”

Carter Dingman also saw major minutes on the varsity last season.

Other seniors on the varsity include Karson Carda, Brian Johnson and Brady Neys.

The roster also includes a group of juniors that Norberg expects to make big contributions throughout the course of the season.

“All those juniors are probably going to get an opportunity at some time,” Norberg said. “The nice thing that I like about them is if somebody doesn’t have it, I can just try somebody else.”

That class includes the likes of Parker Lemer, Donnie Soderland, Camden Fauth, Grant Fritz, Jett Carlson, Charlie Phillips and Cooper Eisenbeisz.

A good share of the basketball players were also part of a successful football team that advanced all the way to the semifinals in the playoffs this past season.

“We have some guys that had a good football season, so they’re used to winning which always helps. They bring some physicality, too,” Norberg said.

While Central will feature some new faces in some new roles this season, the ultimate goal never changes, according to Norberg.

“Our expectation every year is try to get to the (state) tournament. That’s what we want to do and that’s everyone in AA,” Norberg said. “Our goal is to play our best basketball at the end of the year and try to pile up as many wins as you can.”

The Eagles open up their season this weekend with back-to-back home games against Rapid City Central on Friday night at Golden Eagles Arena and against Rapid City Stevens Saturday afternoon at the Aberdeen Civic Arena.

Norberg is hoping that a strong summer of activity will translate into a solid upcoming season.

“I’ve never had a team that progressed more from June until the end of July in one summer,” he said. “I’m hoping that continues during the winter. If we do that, we can be a very competitive team at the end.”