The Aberdeen girls' basketball team played well together and shared the basketball on the way to a 60-29 Eastern South Dakota Conference win over Watertown on Friday at Golden Eagles Arena. Aberdeen, which is ranked second in Class AA this week, improved to 10-0 overall and 8-0 in the ESD. Watertown dropped to 3-8 and 3-6 ESD.
"We think one of our strengths is that we play well together," said Aberdeen girls' coach Dawn Seiler. "We're willing to share the basketball. We're willing to make that extra pass. I thought we did a good job of moving the ball pretty quick. When we got up the court in a hurry, the ball got in the basket in a hurry. When we had to settle in and run our half court offense, we weren't impatient."
The Arrows suffered with turnovers and poor shooting in the first half and trailed 35-11 after the first two periods. Watertown committed 13 turnovers in the first half and shot 19 percent from the field.
"For us, it's been a struggle scoring," said Watertown coach Pat McClemans. "The turnovers and not getting opportunities to score are a big deal. I'm proud of the way our kids played because they competed. I thought there were a lot of times in the first half when we had pretty good position and Aberdeen just threw over the top of us."
Early in the game, Aberdeen Central attacked Watertown's zone with the inside duo of seniors Samantha Knecht and Sara Niederbaumer. The two bigs combined for 27 points and nine rebounds in the game. Knecht topped all scorers with 21 points as the 6-foot-2 center connected on 9 of 10 field goals in the game.
"Whether we were man or zone it didn't make any difference. They are undefeated for a reason because they have all the pieces," said McClemans.
Three Watertown players, Shayli Kirsch, Elli Stevenson and Mandy Tetzlaff, scored five points each, and Ashtin McClemans added five rebounds.
"I thought we executed well the first half," said Seiler. "We didn't always finish with the shot but we got the looks that we wanted. Any time you play Watertown you have to be prepared for everything and that was the case tonight (Friday). I thought our kids did a good job getting the shots we wanted."
Aberdeen's Brynn Flakus added 15 points and three assists. Brianna Kusler chipped in with six points and three rebounds in a reserve role.
"Coach talks about passing the ball a lot and how we need to be strong with the ball always and move it quickly," said Kusler. "I thought we worked the ball really well and we didn't get stalled. We worked the plays really well."
Central had not played a game for a week.
"We needed a week," said Seiler. "We were fatigued. We've got some nicks that you typically have this year. It was a good week. We really challenged the kids on Monday to have a great week of practice and I thought that they did that."
In the injury department, Aberdeen sophomore Maddie Goetz missed another game with an injured ankle.
Aberdeen Central takes to the court again on Tuesday hosting Pierre in an ESD contest, and Watertown entertains Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Tuesday in a non-conference matchup.
VARSITY
WATERTOWN: Shayli Kirsch 1-4 3-3 5, Elli Stevenson 1-6 2-3 5, Emily Pengilly 0-3 0-0 0, Ashtin McClemans 1-7 2-2 4, Mandy Tetzlaff 1-3 2-4 5, Danielle Gottsleben 1-2 0-0 2, Molly Despiegler 1-4 1-2 3, Danielle Duncan 0-3 2-4 2, McKenzie Werner 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 7-34 13-20 29.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Kelsey Hannigan 0-3 0-0 0, Samantha Knecht 9-10 3-4 21, Brynn Flakus 6-10 1-1 15, Leah Beringer 1-6 1-2 3, Sara Niederbaumer 3-6 0-2 6, Morghan Waage 0-2 0-0 0, Jamie Larson 1-1 0-0 3, Ally Steckler 0-1 0-0 0, Emily Miller 1-1 2-2 4, Brianna Kusler 2-3 2-2 6, Erica Shields 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-44 9-13 60.
Watertown (3-8) 3 11 15 29
Aberdeen Central (11-0) 12 35 45 60
3-point field goals - Watertown 2-6 (Kirsch 0-1, Stevenson 1-3, Pengilly 0-1, Tetzlaff 1-1); Aberdeen 3-10 (Hannigan 0-2, Flakus 2-4, Beringer 0-1, Waage 0-1, Larson 1-1, Kusler 0-1). Fouled out - None. Total fouls - Watertown 12; Aberdeen 12. Rebounds - Watertown 25 (McClemans 5); Aberdeen 24 (Niederbaumer 7). Turnovers - Watertown 20; Aberdeen 13. Assists - Watertown 1 (Duncan 1); Aberdeen 10 (Flakus 3). Steals - Watertown 4; Aberdeen 6 (Niederbaumer 2). Blocked shots - Watertown 0; Aberdeen 3 (Knecht 2). Officials - Jim Johnson, Mike Ruth, Tom McGough.
JUNIOR VARSITY
WATERTOWN: Danielle Gottsleben 1 2-3 4, Molly Despiegler 4 1-4 9, Danielle Duncan 2 2-2 6, Logan Kludt 1 1-4 3, Riley Korthour 1 0-0 3, Madigan Moore 1 0-0 2, Holly Becking 2 0-0 4, McKenzie Werner 5 0-2 10. Totals 17-43 6-15 41.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Morghan Waage 2 2-6 6, Sydney Waterman 0 1-2 1, Robin Doerr 2 0-0 4, Tara Rook 3 0-0 6, Erica Shields 0 5-6 5, Lauren Schumacher 1 0-0 2, Kaylee Kappes 1 0-0 2, Abby Brist 1 0-0 3. Totals 10-36 8-14 29.
Watertown 10 21 31 41
Aberdeen Central 10 15 23 29
3-point field goals - Korthour, Brist. Fouled out - None. Total fouls - Watertown 9; Aberdeen 1 4. Rebounds - Watertown 34 (Werner 7); Aberdeen 27 (Waterman 7). Turnovers - Watertown 11; Aberdeen 17. Assists - Watertown 0; Aberdeen 1 (Waterman 1). Steals - Watertown 5 (Despiegler 3); Aberdeen 3. Blocked shots - Watertown 0; Aberdeen 0.
SOPHOMORE
WATERTOWN: Miranda Breitag 1 1-2 4, Brittany Bauer 1 0-0 2, Sydney Maloney 1 0-2 2, Kerigan Pieper 3 0-0 8, Madigan Moore 0 2-2 2, Chelsey Borkins 0 2-3 2, Tatum Hemiller 1 0-0 2, Emily Buri 1 0-0 2, Laura Socha 1 0-4 2. Totals 9-28 5-14 26.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Sydney Johnson 1 0-0 2, Jamie Larson 3 0-0 7, Lauren Schumacher 4 2-2 10, Emily Miller 7 2-2 16, Kaylee Kappes 0 2-2 2, Madisyn Waage 1 0-0 2, Megan Kingsriter 1 0-0 2, Mia Bergan 4 1-4 9. Totals 21-45 7-13 50.
Watertown 10 14 20 26
Aberdeen Central 6 21 34 50
3-point field goals - Breitag, Pieper 2, Larson. Fouled out - None. Total fouls - Watertown 12; Aberdeen 11. Rebounds - Watertown 19 (Moore 4); Aberdeen 30 (Schumacher 9). Turnovers - Watertown 25; Aberdeen 15. Assists - Watertown 0; Aberdeen 9 (Miller 3). Steals - Watertown 3; Aberdeen 8. Blocked shots - Watertown 0; Aberdeen 0.
FRESHMAN
WATERTOWN: Tatum Hemiller 6 1-3 13, Morgan Jergens 3 0-2 6, Sydney Dale 1 1-3 3, Chelsey Borkhuis 0 2-2 2, Laura Socha 2 1-2 5, Emily Buri 0 1-2 1. Totals 12 6-14 30.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Emily Brennan 1 0-1 2, Ally Steckler 3 0-0 6, Megan Kingsriter 3 0-2 6, Mia Bergan 2 0-2 4, Sami Shields 1 0-0 2, Megan Kreich 1 0-0 2, Renee Bragg 1 5-6 7. Total 12 5-9 29.
Watertown 7 14 22 30
Aberdeen Central 2 8 16 29
Fouled out - Steckler. Total fouls - Watertown 19; Aberdeen 18.