MITCHELL – Aberdeen Central ran its record to a perfect 6-0 on the season with a strong finish against an out-of-state competitor Friday afternoon. 

The Golden Eagles pulled away from a 29-all deadlock at the end of the third quarter to claim a 49-41 girls’ basketball victory over Thunder Basin (Wyo.) as part of the Hoops City Classic at the Corn Palace.

Central followed the lead of sophomore center Taryn Hermansen and freshman Lauryn Burckhard throughout the game and got big contributions late from Emma Dohrer and Caydi Withers to secure the win.

“We settled into our offense better in the second half and continued to control the boards, which helped us pull off the win,” said Central coach Mikayla Arechigo.

Central led early, but a late second-quarter lull continued into the early portions of the third quarter, allowing Thunder Basin to pull ahead by as many as seven points in that third stanza.

The Golden Eagles, however, closed the quarter on a 7-0 run and pulled away in the fourth.

“We need to take better care of the ball in the first half, and shoot free throws better in the second half,” Arechigo said.

Hermansen finished with 18 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Eagles. Burckhard, who was also big on the defensive end, finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.

Dohrer came off the bench for six points and four rebounds, while Withers scored five of her seven points in the fourth quarter.

As a team, the Golden Eagles out-worked Thunder Basin on the boards by a 38-19 count.

Friday’s contest marked the final one of the 2023 calendar year. Central will return to action in 2024, traveling to Sioux Falls Washington on Thursday, Jan. 4.

THUNDER BASIN: Reece McGrath 1 1-2 6, Attie Westbrook 1 0-0 2, Brianna Ketchum 3 0-0 8, Addison Rouse 3 0-0 7, Kambel Cox 2 2-2 7, Brooke Kendrick 3 0-0 7, Ashtyn Ketchum 1 0-0 2, Allie Rodgers 1 0-0 2. Totals 16-47 3-4 41.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Caydi Withers 1 4-7 7, Taryn Hermansen 9 0-2 18, Emma Dohrer 1 3-5 6, Kaylee Donat 1 0-0 2, Lauryn Burckhard 5 6-7 16. Totals 17-40 13-21 49.

Thunder Basin 9 19 29 41

Aberdeen Central 11 18 29 49

3-point field goals – Thunder Basin 6-19 (McGrath, Rouse, Cox, Kendrick, B. Ketchum 2); Aberdeen Central 2-11 (Withers, Dohrer). Fouls – Thunder Basin 24; Aberdeen Central 8. Rebounds – Thunder Basin 19 (Rouse 5); Aberdeen Central 38 (Burckhard 12, Hermansen 9). Assists – Thunder Basin 10 (Westbrook 5); Aberdeen Central 15 (Ayrlie Waldo 4, Withers 3, Dohrer 3). Turnovers – Thunder Basin 11; Aberdeen Central 22. Blocks – Thunder Basin 0; Aberdeen Central 3 (Burckhard 2, Dohrer).