In theory, the Trinity Lutheran School location in Aberdeen for Tuesday night’s girls’ basketball game was a neutral location located nearly in the middle geographically between Great Plains Lutheran and North Central.

However, the site was definitely a home-court advantage for Abby Kjenstad. The Aberdeen native honed her skills in that facility while attending Trinity Lutheran and looked right at home in leading GPL to a 56-35 non-conference victory.

Kjenstad, who said she spent “probably hundreds, thousands” of hours putting up shots in that gym, scored 21 points for the Panthers, connecting on a variety of attempts from the field.

The sophomore said the contest definitely felt like a home game for her.

“Knowing that we had a lot of people that I grew up with too, and the fans, really helped it feel like home,” Kjenstad said.

It was Kjenstad’s shooting that not only produced 17 first-half points, but forced the Thunder to change their defense so the Panthers could get high-percentage inside looks.

“It ended up making us go man on them,” said North Central coach Kaci Vander Vorst, “just to try and stop some of that outside play.”

That’s when Olivia Holmen stepped up and scored nine points in the third quarter to help put the game out of reach for the Panthers. The senior finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

GPL’s defense produced some of its best offense as the Panthers converted one turnover after another into transition baskets.

“We like to run anytime that we can get out and go, and I think we wore them out a bit, too,” said Panthers coach Matt Bauer. “They were getting a little bit tired of chasing, but definitely running is a part of our game. We like to rip long passes and get up the court with as few dribbles as possible, and we had a few of those opportunities tonight.”

While the Panthers hounded North Central outside, they locked down the inside as well, forcing the Thunder to have to score against pressure the entire way.

“They’re going to be tough anyways. They are a very disciplined team,” Vander Vorst said. “We knew that they passed well, played defense well. I just felt that our passing was not the best, seeing each other, getting open, and ultimately, in kind of letting them get some of those easy shots on the other end.”

Playing solid defense is a priority for the Panthers, according to Kjenstad.

“Coach always says that he wants defense to be our calling card,” Kjenstad said. “Offense isn’t always there, but you can always win a game with good defense, so that’s what we always try and do.”

Despite facing that solid defense, North Central’s Amree Vander Vorst still managed to score 21 points, many coming on contested looks from the perimeter.

“If I know there’s a mismatch, I try to get it inside,” Vander Vorst said, “but ultimately, if I’m open on the outside, I’ve got to take the shot.”

The sophomore has an ability to fly around screens and nail shots with a quick release, seconds before a defender can get a hand up.

When asked how she is able to connect from distance so quickly, Vander Vorst said, “just have to work on it in practice, because I know that I can definitely make that shot, and I need to take it when it’s open.”

Ella Batie contributed eight points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, 7-11 on the year. The team hopes to use Tuesday’s contest to help prepare for the postseason.

“When you play a team like this, it exposes some of the things that you have to work on,” Coach Vander Vorst said.

GPL, 14-5 on the year, is having its best season in school history, but faces major hurdles ahead in the postseason, thanks to a loaded region featuring some of the state’s best teams.

“Obviously, it’s a nice team and they’re playing well, but the one sort of ‘win’ goal, if you want to call it that, at the start of the season was, can we finish in the top half of the region and host a playoff game?” Bauer said. “And it is stinking hard to do that in Region 2A, because obviously you have Flandreau, Hamlin, Sioux Valley, Florence-Henry.”

Still, the Panthers possess talented players who perform well together and will pose a threat in the postseason.

“We all just have a very close relationship and we can trust each other,” Kjenstad said. “I feel like we have a good variety of posts and guards, and people that can handle the ball, people that can shoot, work in the post, and no one on our team is selfish, no one is looking for points. We all just want the best for each other.”

NORTH CENTRAL (7-11): Amree Vander Vorst 7 4-5 21, Alaina Dosch  1 0-0 2, Ella Batie 3 2-6 8, Katelyn Engelhart 0 1-2 1, Camryn Witlock 1 0-0 2 Kaidence Bulgin 0 1-2 1. Totals 12-37 8-15 35.

GREAT PLAINS LUTHERAN (14-5): Halle Bauer 2 0-0 5, Abby Kjenstad 9 0-1 21, Olivia Holmen 7 1-2 15, Esta Cameron 4 1-2 9, Madeline Prahl 3 0-0 6. Totals 25-50 2-5 56.

North Central 4 18 26 35

Great Plains Lutheran 10 29 46 56

3-point field goals – Vander Vorst (3); Bauer, Kjenstad (3). Total fouls – North Central 7; Great Plains Lutheran 16. Rebounds – North Central 26 (Batie 8); Great Plains Lutheran 27 (Holmen 8). Turnovers – North Central 21; Great Plains Lutheran 8. Assists – Great Plains Lutheran 19 (Bauer 6, Prahl 5). Blocked Shots – Great Plains Lutheran 3 (Kjenstad 2). Steals – Great Plains Lutheran – 14 (Bauer 4, Kjenstad 3).