ONIDA – Sully Buttes scored 26 unanswered points to start the game and rolled to a 59-27 non-conference girls’ basketball victory over Aberdeen Christian Saturday afternoon.

The Knights eventually got its offense to kick in, but by then the hosts were well out in front.

“It was a tough start, but they played better and only lost the second half by two,” said Christian coach Andre Cobbs of his players. “One of our biggest issues is finding our footing scoring. Once we started getting the looks we wanted, they started scoring, but we are still trying to find our identity and scorers.”

Jolie Fogarty topped the Knights with 13 points, and Sophia Eichler added six.

“Sophia and Jolie had some nice scoring spurts, but we really have to find that third and fourth scorer,” Cobbs said. “It has been really nice to see Ari Johnson transform into a basketball player and she led the team in rebounds tonight.”

Cobbs said the offense continues to improve, but stopping taller foes is an issue.

“We continue to put up more points each game,” Cobbs said. “We really have got to work on stopping an offense with big forwards.”

Sully Buttes was led in scoring by Payge Bakker with 22 points. Berkeley Birney added 16, and Analiese Van Zee followed with 14.

Christian, 0-4 on the season, takes on perennial Class A power Sisseton on Monday night at the Christian School Gym. The Redmen have finished third in back-to-back state tournaments.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (0-4): Alicia Davis 0 2-2 2, Jolie Fogarty 4 3-4 13, Sophia Eichler 3 0-4 6, Ari Johnson 1 0-0 2, Lucy Jones 0 4-5 4. Totals 8-28 9-17 27.

SULLY BUTTES (4-3): Total points, Payge Bakker 22, Berkely Birney 16, Analiese Van Zee 14.

Aberdeen Christian 12 15 – 27

Sully Buttes 42 17 – 59

Rebounds – Aberdeen Christian 15 (Johnson 6, Eichler 5). Turnovers – Aberdeen Christian 19.