TEA – Aberdeen Central scored 13 unanswered points to turn back Tea Area and pick up a 66-55 Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ basketball win Saturday afternoon.
The surge allowed the fourth-rated Golden Eagles to pull away from a one-point lead and improve to 8-1 on the season.
“The girls were confident and aggressive,” said Central coach Paiton Burckhard, “knew they had to score and did so.”
The Golden Eagles led 49-48 before Emma Dohrer and Kamdyn Borge hit back-to-back 3-pointers to ignite the pivotal surge. Kenadi Withers had a pair of field goals to help fuel the run.
By the time Central was done, it owned 14-point advantage with just three minutes remaining.
Withers finished the contest with a game-high 18 points.
“Kenadi was phenomenal,” Burckhard said. “Beast on both ends of the floor.”
Taryn Hermansen scored her 1,000th career point on a short bank shot midway through the second quarter. The senior finished with a dozen points and eight rebounds.
Lauryn Burckhard contributed 15 points and also grabbed eight rebounds.
The Golden Eagles trailed for the majority of the first half as the Titans connected for eight three-point field goals. Central appeared to be taking control in the third quarter, opening a 13-point lead, only to have Tea Area battle back.
“Hard fought road win for our girls,” Coach Burckhard said. “Ready for the next.”
The next comes on Tuesday when Central plays at defending State AA champion O’Gorman.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL (8-1): Ava Yeske 1 1-2 4, Kenadi Withers 8 2-3 18, Emma Dohrer 2 0-0 5, Lauryn Burckhard 3 8-10 15, Taryn Hermansen 5 2-4 12, Kamdyn Borge 3 1-2 9, Camryn Albrecht 1 0-0 3. Totals 23-58 14-21 66.
TEA AREA (6-4): Jaycie Babb 2 1-2 5, Paige Sabers 3 0-0 9, Grace Bialas 1 1-2 4, Piper Benning 2 2-4 8, Jayna VanLaecken 5 2-2 15, Anna Binde 2 0-0 4, Ellie Clayberg 2 0-0 6, Emma Lingren 1 2-2 4. Totals 18-55 8-12 55.
Aberdeen Central 13 38 49 66
Tea Area 15 32 37 55
3-point field goals – Yeske, Dohrer, Burckhard, Borge 2, Albrecht; Sabers 3, Bialas, Benning 2, VanLaecken 3, Clayberg 2. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 16; Tea Area 18. Rebounds – Aberdeen Central 40 (Burckhard 8, Hermansen 8); Tea Area 30 (VanLaecken 6). Turnovers – Aberdeen Central 10; Tea Area 12. Assists – Aberdeen Central 13 (Dohrer 3, Withers 3); Tea Area 15 (Babb 3, Bialas 3, Clayberg 3). Blocked shots – Aberdeen Central 1 (Burckhard); Tea Area 5 (Babb, Sabers, VanLaecken, Binde, Clayberg). Steals – Aberdeen Central 7 (Dohrer 2); Tea Area 7 (Babb 2, Bialas 2).
