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Fourth-quarter rally lifts Central past Sturgis

Aberdeen Central’s Rylee Rieker, left, pushes the ball up the floor as Sturgis’Ty Petrocco, right, defends during Saturday’s game at the Golden Eagles Arena. Photo by John Davis taken 12/16/2023

Aberdeen Central gave up a 27-point third quarter to a visiting Sturgis squad, but got just enough of of those points back to claim a 61-58 non-conference boys’ basketball win over the Scoopers, completing a two-game weekend sweep at Golden Eagles Arena in the process.

After going into the halftime break up 31-25, the Golden Eagles committed seven third-quarter turnovers and watched the Scoopers burst into the lead early in the stanza.

That lead eventually ballooned into double digits, as Sturgis led 52-39 going into the final stanza before the Golden Eagles were able to right the ship. Four straight Parker Lemer points around the 2-minute mark put Central back in front. Grant Fritz and Lemer then sealed off the win with a pair of layups off turnovers.

“They had all the momentum,” said Central coach Brent Norberg of that third-quarter lull. ”They were just just kicking our tail. We weren’t guarding, and they were attacking and more aggressive.”

Central did change up its defensive strategy, putting up more full-court pressure on the Scoopers.

The comeback, however, was more executive than strategic, Norberg said.

“Really it’s not a change in what we were doing, it’s just a change in the kids’ effort and attitude and confidence,” he said. “We made a couple shots, finally got a three to go down and that was big. We got some stops and turnovers and some layups. We needed to be almost perfect in the fourth quarter to get it and we were able to do enough to get the W.”

Central began the night with a bucket on its opening possession, but wasn’t able to find a consistent rhythm on the offensive end. The Golden Eagles countered with defensive pressure and rebounding, holding the Scoopers to just one second-chance opportunity in the first half.

“Coach stresses that (rebounding) a lot in practice,” said Central junior Brendan Phillips, who came off the bench for a team-best 14 points. “We worked a whole week on boxing out, and it worked.“

Aberdeen Central’s Brendan Phillips, center, puts up a shot between Sturgis’ Ty Ferguson, left and Jaxon Cano, right as Carter Williams, far right, looks on during Saturday’s game at the Golden Eagles Arena. Photo by John Davis taken 12/16/2023

Central finished the night with a 42-33 edge in total rebounds and a 19-11 advantage in offensive rebounds.

“We rebounded the ball last weekend very poorly in the second game,” Norberg said. “We were much better this weekend, other than that third quarter when we gave up some offensive rebounds to them.”

In addition to Phillips’ offensive spark, the Golden Eagles got a defensive push from Cam Olson off the bench. Olson finished with 11 total rebounds, including five on the offensive end of the floor.

Phillips finished with six rebounds and was 2-for-7 from long range on a night the Golden Eagles needed it.

“He’s been pretty consistent for us,” Norberg said. “He’s really turned into a complete player for us and that’s what we need. He’s getting better and better defensively every time. He can score at the rim, he’s a better rebounder than he was last year, and he can shoot the snot out of it. He’s a good player for us.”

Camden Fauth notched a dozen points, while Jett Carlson had nine points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Golden Eagles.

Aberdeen Central’s Brendan Phillips (42) and Cooper Eisenbeisz (30) trap Sturgis’ Ty Petrocco (12) along the sideline forcing Petrocco to call a time out during Saturday’s game at the Golden Eagles Arena. In the background at left helping call time out is the Scoopers’ head coach Dan Skinner. Photo by John Davis taken 12/16/2023

Sturgis was led by Ryan Heinert, who had 23 points and was a big part of Sturgis’ big third-quarter surge.

“He had to earn them,” Norberg said. “He’s a good player and he made some tough ones.”

The Golden Eagles head to Yankton on Thursday to begin Eastern South Dakota Conference play.

“We’ll be ready for them coming off of two wins,” Phillips said. “Now we know how to play against some adversity and come back.”

STURGIS (0-2): Teigen Wormstadt 6 2-2 14, Dylan Dschaak 1 0-0 3, Ty Ferguson 1 2-2 5, Carter Williams 2 0-0 4, Ryan Heinert 7 6-6 23, Taiton Ortlieb 1 0-0 3, Ty Petrocco 3 0-0 6, Jaxon Cano 0 0-1 0. Totals 21-54 10-12 58.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (3-1): Jett Carlson 4 1-2 9, Parker Lemer 3 2-2 8, Camden Fauth 5 0-0 12, Cooper Eisenbiesz 1 0-0 2, Grant Fritz 4  2-2 10, Brendan Phillips 6 0-1 14, Cam Olson 3 0-0 6. Totals 26-65 5-7 61.

Sturgis 15 25 52 58

Aberdeen Central 15 31 39 61

3-point field goals – Dschaak, Ferguson, Heinert (3), Ortlieb; Fauth (2), Phillips (2). Fouls – Sturgis 12; Aberdeen Central 15. Rebounds – Sturgis 33 (Wormstadt 7, Williams 7); Aberdeen Central 42 (Olson 11, Fritz 8). Assists – Sturgis 5 (Wormstadt 2, Cano 2); Aberdeen Central 12 (Fritz 3). Turnovers – Sturgis 16; Aberdeen Central 13. Blocks – Sturgis 1 (Williams); Aberdeen Central 3 (Carlson, Rylee Rieker, Olson). Steals – Sturgis 8 (Heinert 2, Petrocco 2); Aberdeen Central 9 (Carlson 3).

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