Some stellar defensive stops were rewarded with a spectacular shot for Aberdeen Central Saturday afternoon.
Josh Hilgemann nailed a three-point field goal at the buzzer to rally the Golden Eagles past Rapid City Central 55-54 in non-conference boys' basketball action.
"It seems like we've been on the other end for a while," said Eagles coach Brent Norberg of closely contested games. "It was a nice change."
Norberg said in his 17 years of coaching, "I don't think I ever won with the ball in the air and the buzzer going off."
Hilgemann's three-pointer capped a game-long rally in which the Eagles wiped out a 40-23 deficit in the third quarter.
"It's what I've dreamed about since I was a kid," Hilgemann, who only had three points prior to the game-winner, said. "Hitting the game-winning shot, it just feels really great."
Aberdeen still trailed by five points in the closing minutes before Braden LeGrand knocked down a three-pointer to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
"We had to make that shot to have a chance to win," Norberg pointed out.
From there, it was up to the Eagles' defense to stop the Cobblers and they were up to the task on two different occasions.
"The kids did a good job of not fouling and playing defense," Norberg said.
That set up the final sequence when Jacob Goehring spotted Hilgemann in transition for the game-winner.
"All you can ask for is a good look at the rim in that situation," Norberg said.
The win capped a solid effort that saw the Eagles keep chipping away until the final buzzer sounded.
"I'm so happy for the kids. It would have been so easy to mail it in," Norberg said. "They showed a lot of toughness."
Carter Paulson scored 10 points to lead a balanced Eagles scoring attack. Aaron Lorenz and Logan LeGrand followed with nine, Brady Mohr had seven, Hilgemann and Tyler Block six apiece and Goehring five.
"That's really kind of what we have to do," Norberg said.
That was a big contrast to Friday night, when Lorenz had 27 points.
"Aaron really carried us when everyone else was struggling," Norberg said.
The Eagles, 2-5 on the season, host Brandon Valley at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Golden Eagles Arena.
In the meantime, they will savor a win that will likely be talked about for years to come.
When asked if he would always remember the contest, Norberg responded, "I think I will. I told the kids, it will be one that they will never forget, either."
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Josh Hilgemann 2 1-2 6, Carter Paulson 4 2-4 10, Braden LeGrand 1 0-0 3, Brady Mohr 3 0-0 7, Aaron Lorenz 3 1-2 9, Jacob Goehring 2 0-0 5, Logan LeGrand 3 0-0 9, Tyler Block 3 0-1 6. Totals 21 4-9 55.
RAPID CITY CENTRAL: Jake Seales 1 0-0 3, Ian Barse 6 4-4 16, Jesse Riddle 3 0-0 8, John Fierro 6 0-0 13, Mitchell Newhouse 0 1-2 1, Josh Dotson 2 0-0 4, Nathan Miller 3 3-3 9. Totals 21 8-9 54.
Aberdeen Central (2-5)|8204255
Rapid City Central (1-5)|16334354
3-point field goals - Hilgemann, B. LeGrand, Mohr, Lorenz 2, Goehring, L. LeGrand 3, Seales, Riddle 2, Fierro. Fouled out - B. LeGrand, Mohr. Total fouls - Aberdeen Central 20; Rapid City Central 11.