LEOLA – For the second time in three nights, Aberdeen Christian’s bench proved to be a difference maker.

After combining for 23 points in a win on Tuesday, freshmen reserves Charles Eichler and Loyall Smith-Wade combined for 30 points in a 70-62 win over Leola-Frederick in Lake Region Conference boys’ basketball Thursday night.

“There’s some good freshmen in the state I’m sure, but man these two are incredible,” said Christian coach Matt Rohrbach.

He said the other Knights picked up on Eichler this past summer.

“We’re typically not used to freshman playing,” Rohrbach said. “The guys were like man, this kid can really play. He’s smart and understands kind of where to be. And Loyall in that first quarter, I think he had eight points. He was just unguardable going to the rim.”

Smith-Wade started the final quarter with a conventional three-point play that pushed a lead to 60-49.

“He had one of the craziest finishes I’ve ever seen in that fourth quarter,” Rohrbach said. “I don’t know how he got it to go.”

The Knights needed plays like that to finally subdue the Titans, who trailed by just five points late in the third quarter.

“They don’t quit,” Rohrbach said. “They’re relentless, just an incredible rebounding team, just like they were last year, and it’s so hard to keep them off the glass.”

While Leola-Frederick stayed within striking distance, they could never make a serious charge down the stretch because Christian did just enough to stay in control.

Luke Kaiser scored six of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. Eichler finished with 16 points and Smith-Wade followed with 14.

As a result, the Knights returned home with the LRC’s Golden Goose traveling trophy.

“That’s what the chant was in the locker room,” Rohrbach said, “everybody was yelling goose, goose, goose, goose! That was just kind of fun.”

Winston Clark led a balanced Leola-Frederick attack with 15 points. Milo Sumption contributed 14, Westyn Thorpe followed with 10, and Jace Thorpe finished with nine.

Chrstian, 2-0, takes on Dell Rapids at Aberdeen Roncalli on Saturday afternoon.

“I don’t know much about them,” Rohrbach said. “Typically A schools, they’re physical, they’re more athletic. … They have a tradition of winning.”

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (2-0): Jet Johnson 3 0-0 9, Dylan Hofer 2 0-0 4, Grady Jett 2 0-0 4, Luke Kaiser 6 3-7 18, Raymond Rodriquez-Martinez 2 0-0 5, Loyall Smith-Wade 6 2-2 14, Charles Eichler 6 4-7 16. Totals 27 9-16 70.

LEOLA-FREDERICK (2-1): Westyn Thorpe 3 3-6 10, Winston Clark 6 2-2 15, Titus Kippley 1 0-0 2, Milo Sumption 6 2-2 14, Zander Hoffman 1 2-6 4, Brayden Heuer 0 1-2 1, Jace Thorpe 3 3-5 9, Erik Losure 3 1-2 7. Totals 23 14-25 62.

Aberdeen Christian 24 41 57 70

Leola-Frederick 16 35 47 62

3-point field goals – Johnson 3, Kaiser 3, Rodriguez-Martinez; W. Thorpe, Clark. Total fouls – Aberdeen Christian 19; Leola-Frederick 13.