BRANDON – A slow start on the offensive side of the court spelled a disappointing end for Aberdeen Central Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell 67-48 to the second-ranked Brandon Valley Lynx in Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ basketball action.

Central, which came into the contest with just two losses – one to top-rated O’Gorman last Tuesday – had trouble getting points on the board through the first four minutes of the contest and found itself trailing by nearly double digits before recording a bucket.

From there, Central matched the Lynx nearly point-for-point, entering the fourth quarter with the ball and trailing just 50-40.

Brandon Valley, however, was able to balloon its lead in the waning minutes of the contest.

“Brandon Valley is a great team. I think if we could have started the game better and stuck with them closer in the beginning, our mindset would have been a lot different,” said Central coach Paiton Burckhard. “That is something we’ve talked about a lot so far this season, our mindset and how we have to be able to reset and continue to play. Brandon Valley is an awesome team and they are going to be a tough team to beat all year. Our team has what it takes to be in tough games this year, but it starts with us and our mindset every day.”

Taryn Hermansen led the way with 17 points for the Golden Eagles. Lauryn Burckhard added 10 points, while Emma Dohrer had nine and Kenadi Withers finished with eight.

Brandon Valley was led by Alyvia Padgett with 25 points. Gracie Salter added 15 for the Lynx.

Central, 7-3 on the year, remains on the road to face Pierre on Tuesday before hosting a throwback night at the Aberdeen Civic Arena on Thursday against Sioux Falls Washington, which is tied with Brandon Valley for the No. 2 spot in the latest edition of the media poll.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (7-3): Kamdyn Borge 0 2-2 2, Kenadi Withers 1 6-8 8, Emma Dohrer 2 4-4 9, Lauryn Burckhard 3 3-6 10, Taryn Hermansen 7 3-4 17, Ava Yeske 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 18-24 48.

BRANDON VALLEY (10-1): Ava Kellenberger 2 2-2 7, Jolisa Parker 0 2-2 2, Madison Beiler 4 0-0 9, London Geiver 1 0-0 3, Amanda Lease 1 0-0 2, Alyvia Padgett 9 7-8 25, Evie Hoff 1 0-0 3, Gracie Salter 7 1-1 15, Julia Ask 0 1-2 1. Totals 25 13-15 67.

Aberdeen Central 7 20 40 48

Brandon Valley 18 32 50 67

3-point field goals – Burckhard 2, Kellenberger, Beiler, Geiver, Hoff. Fouled out – Burckhard; Beiler. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 12; Brandon Valley 19.