Golden Eagles avenge loss to Harrisburg

Aberdeen Central had the hotter of two hot hands Saturday night.

The Golden Eagles drilled 13 threes to claim the upper hand over No. 3 Harrisburg in a high-scoring 88-80 Eastern South Dakota Conference boys basketball contest in Harrisburg.

"We got off to a good start," said Central coach Brent Norberg. "We got up early 11-4 and just kind of hung on."

In a game where the offense came easy, it was Cole Bergan underneath and Jonah Dohrer on the perimeter that led the Golden Eagles. Bergan had 33 points on seven field goals and a bevy of trips to the free-throw line. Dohrer finished with seven 3s, four in the first half alone.

"It was one of those games where neither team could really stop the other," Norberg said. "It was a really entertaining game. We feel fortunate to have made a few more plays that allowed us to win the game."

Norberg noted that several other players stepped up for some timely buckets, as well.

"We feel good," he said. "We still need to improve. Giving up 80 points isn't great, but we're happy. These kids have come a long way from where we started to where we are now."

Saturday's win marked the sixth straight and seventh in the last eight games for the Golden Eagles, a stretch that began nearly a month ago at home. It also avenged a January meeting between the two teams at Golden Eagles Arena.

"To go on the road and beat a team that drilled us by 28 on our home floor really shows how far these guys have come and how much they've improved," Norberg said.

The Golden Eagles return home Tuesday to face a winless Mitchell team. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Golden Eagles Arena.

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ABERDEEN CENTRAL (11-7): Nate Rook 1 3-6 6, Jonah Dohrer 8 1-2 24, Collin Stoebner 1 0-0 2, Cole Bergan 7 19-24 33, Brandon Kusler 3 2-3 9, Mason Flakus 3 0-2 8, Andrew Bergan 2 0-0 6. Totals 25 25-37 88.

HARRISBURG (16-3): Nick Hoyt 5 2-2 15, Brady VanHolland 3 2-3 9, Chase Altenburg 4 6-6 14, Ace Zorr 8 6-11 22, Blair Slaughter 1 0-0 2, Brooks Fuller 5 0-0 14, Nick Walter 2 0-0 4. Totals 28 16-22 80.

Aberdeen Central 21 40 59 88

Harrisburg 17 34 58 80

3-point field goals — Aberdeen Central 13 (Rook, Dohrer 7, Kusler, Flakus 2, A. Bergan 2); Harrisburg 8 (Hoyt 3, VanHolland, Fuller 4). Total fouls — Aberdeen Central 19; Harrisburg 25. Fouled out — Aberdeen Central (Stoebner); Harrisburg Altenburg).