Aberdeen Central nipped host Yankton 36-35 in an Eastern South Dakota Conference boys' basketball game Saturday afternoon.
After Yankton's Landon Breen tied the game with 2:08 left in the game, Aberdeen's Carter Paulson made two free throws to put his team ahead 34-32. A three-pointer by Michael Rucker put Yankton ahead with 21 seconds left to play, but Paulson answered back with seven seconds left, giving Aberdeen the 36-35 win.
"Anytime you get a road win in this conference is great," Aberdeen Central coach Brent Norberg said. "It certainly wasn't a pretty game offensively, but both teams really battled defensively. It was one of those tough, physical, hard fought games."
Yankton got out to a 12-4 lead after the first quarter, but it was close throughout.
"Defensively, we just kept with it," Norberg said. "We were a little more active with our pressure. Neither team could really get any rhythm going offensively. Once we got back close, it was a one-possession game all the way there. It was just one of those games."
Paulson and Brady Mohr combined for 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles. Jacob Goehring added seven points and three rebounds.
The Golden Eagles host Mitchell on Friday.
"It doesn't get any easier," Haynes said. "Brookings is really good. They got us pretty good the first time, so we're going to have to play a lot better to be competitive."
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Josh Hilgemann 2-11 0-0 5, Carter Paulson 3-8 2-2 8, Brady Mohr 2-6 2-4 8, Jacob Goehring 2-7 1-2 7, Aaron Lorenz 1-5 2-2 4, Isaac Jones 1-5 0-0 2, Tyler Block 1-1 0-0 2, Jacob Carrels 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-10 36.
YANKTON: Michael Rucker 2-6 0-0 5, Andrew Hummel 3-7 2-3 8, Landon Breen 4-9 0-0 8, J.J. Henja 1-6 1-4 3, Brady Hale 3-7 0-0 7, Ryan Olson 0-2 0-0 0, Zach Benjamin 0-0 0-0 0, Reid Sawatzke 0-1 0-0 0, Kellen Soulek 1-5 2-2 4. Totals 14 5-9 35.
Central (5-10, 3-8 ESD)| 4 16 24 36
Yankton (4-9, 2-7)|12 18 26 35
3-point field goals -- Hilgemann, Mohr 2, Goehring 2, Rucker, Hale. Total fouls -- Aberdeen Central 12; Yankton 12. Rebounds -- Aberdeen Central 31 (Paulson 6); Yankton 32 (Breen 7). Turnovers -- Aberdeen Central 15; Yankton 15.