Aberdeen Christian took advantage of its depth to turn back Warner Tuesday night at the Civic Arena.

The Knights received 25 points from their bench, and gradually pulled away in the second half for a 68-49 Lake Region Conference boys’ basketball win.

It was freshmen Charles Eichler and Loyall Smith-Wade who combined for 16 second-half points to help propel Christian to a win in its first outing of the season.

“Oddly enough it was the same way last year. They played us really tough in that first half and we kind of pulled away in the third and the fourth,” said Christian coach Matt Rohrbach. “Last year it was Luke Kaiser, and not that he didn’t play well and Dylan (Hofer) didn’t play well, but how about Charles Eichler and Loyall Smith-Wade kind of pulling up in that second half and really playing well.”

While Christian turned its to bench, the Monarchs didn’t have the same luxury on this occasion. After a strong first half that led to a 29-29 tie at the break, Warner struggled to keep up in the final 16 minutes.

“I’m proud of our group. I had about eight guys in practice (Monday),” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein. “We’re battling sickness really bad.”

The Monarchs managed just six points in the third quarter as Christian opened up an 11-point lead at one stage.

“In the first half we did a really nice job, you could see it,” Hoellein said. “In the second half we were slow everywhere.”

To compound matters, Eichler and Smith-Wade had fresh legs and took advantage of it as Christian outrebounded the Monarchs.

“They were fresh, they were coming off the bench,” Hoellein said, “and we ran out of gas.”

Despite playing without all-stater Brooks Jett, who is recovering from a football injury, the Knights still managed to collect 14 offensive rebounds in the contest.

“That one probably starts with Dylan Hofer. It is unreal the knack for the ball that that kid has,” Rohrbach said. “And Loyall was getting in there and Charlie got in there quite a few times, and then there’s Grady (Jett) that you’ve got to box out. Pretty soon, Luke’s coming down at 6-3, and Raymond’s (Rodriquez-Martinez) getting in there and it’s just exciting to see the guys really kind of mesh and roll off of each other, even without Brooks.”

Eichler scored a team-leading 14 points in his first ever varsity game. He said having supportive teammates helps.

“I really got good players around me supporting me,” Eichler said, “so whenever I make a bad decision or a bad play, they were there supporting me.”

He said he just tries to fit in with the rest of the guys on the floor.

“I just go wherever I’m needed and keep the good energy wherever I go,” Eichler said, “just fill a spot wherever it’s needed, really.”

Smith-Wade finished with nine points and three offensive rebounds in his first varsity contest.

“Game ball in the locker room was Charles Eichler and Loyall,” Rohrbach said. “We went in there and said first half was not kind to you boys, and second half you guys balled out, and welcome to the big show.”

Kaiser contributed 13 points to the Christian total and Hofer ended with 12.

Brennan Wolf-Donat topped Warner with 15 points and Braydon Kroll followed with 14.

Kroll scored nine second-half points to help keep the Monarchs within striking distance until the fourth quarter.

“I was just trying to do what felt right for the team,” Kroll said, “just get the win, but fell short.”

The junior said the team can learn from the setback to Christian.

“They’re a good team,” Kroll said. “We’re going to learn stuff from this game, use it moving forward as we continue our season.”

Christian has two more games remaining this week, at Leola-Frederick on Thursday, and facing Dell Rapids at Roncalli on Saturday.

“We just kind of stay in the present, stay in the day, focus on the next game coming up,” Eichler said, “focus on which team it is and how we’re going to play against them.”

WARNER (2-1): Lincoln Kroll 0 3-4 3, Braydon Kroll 6 2-3 14, Jesiah Baum 0 4-4 4, Brennan Wolf-Donat 6 1-2 15, Noah Bakeberg 2 0-2 4, Easton Bruns 2 2-3 6, Alec Mikkelsen 1 0-0 3. Totals 17-50 12-18 49.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (1-0): Jet Johnson 2 0-0 6, Dylan Hofer 3 6-7 12, Grady Jett 2 1-2 5, Luke Kaiser 5 1-2 13, Raymond Rodriquez-Martinez 2 0-0 4, Loyall Smith-Wade 4 0-0 9, Charles Eichler 6 1-1 14, Asher Keller 1 0-0 3, Daniel Opdahl 1 0-0 2. Totals 26-62 9-13 68.

Warner 17 29 35 49

Aberdeen Christian 20 29 44 68

3-point field goals – Wolf-Donat 2, Mikkelsen; Johnson 2, Kaiser 2, Smith-Wade, Eichler, Keller.  Total fouls – Warner 15; Aberdeen Christian 21. Rebounds – Warner 27 (Bakeberg 8); Aberdeen Christian 37 (Hofer 12). Turnovers – Warner 17; Aberdeen Christian 17.