One night after toppling Watertown, one of the Eastern South Dakota Conference's top teams, Mitchell (5-13, 5-9 ESD) followed up with a 62-52 win over Aberdeen Central (5-11, 3-9 ESD) on Friday in high school boys' basketball played at Golden Eagles Arena. It marked the second time this season that the Kernels put together consecutive wins.
With just two regular season games on its schedule, Mitchell is starting to play better.
"What we were missing was probably our best player in Seth Cavanaugh," said Mitchell coach Tom Young. "He was out with an injury and he's back. He brings a steadiness to our team. In the last month we've gotten better. We still make some mistakes."
Mitchell senior Cole Morgan, who recorded a career and season high of 25 points, started the game by going 4 for 5 from the three-point area in the first half.
"For them, Morgan was big," said Central coach Brent Norberg. "I don't know what he averages for points, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't had 25 in a game. You have to give him credit. We didn't find him and he made us pay."
Morgan drained three of the long range shots to open the second quarter and the Kernels took a 31-19 lead at halftime. Mitchell shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and Aberdeen managed just 35 percent.
"We didn't take care of the ball and didn't play with any confidence," said Norberg. "It started because defensively we didn't have any intensity. We just didn't rise to the challenge. We needed to rise up to win a big game. Hopefully, next time we will."
Morgan's sixth three-pointer of the game ended the third quarter with Mitchell leading 40-30. Young noted that Mitchell had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter for the first time this season.
"I'm proud of our kids," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Aberdeen. They have some good players. They can put a bunch of points up in a hurry with their three-point shooting. We needed to win this game for our confidence."
Both teams scored 22 points in the fourth quarter as Mitchell tried to drain time off the clock and Aberdeen Central picked up the pressure full court.
"We definitely could have had a let down after beating Watertown," said Young. "I challenged the kids to come out and play hard and they did. They answered it pretty well."
In addition to Morgan's 25 points, Cavanaugh added 21 points and grabbed up 10 rebounds.
Aberdeen leaders included Brady Mohr with 17 points and Aaron Lorenz with 11 points.
Aberdeen Central and Mitchell are both battling for the third spot in District 3AA. The Golden Eagles have held the number three position for much of the season but the Kernels have drawn closer with the two wins.
According to the South Dakota High School Activities Association web site, after Friday's loss, Central has a seed point average of 15.63 to Mitchell's 14.71.
The Kernels remaining games are against Huron and Yankton. The Golden Eagles schedule has Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Brandon Valley and Pierre.
"Tonight (Friday) was a big game," said Norberg. "When Mitchell beat Watertown, it really became big and we didn't answer the bell."
Aberdeen Central returns to action on Tuesday hosting Sioux Falls Roosevelt in a non-conference game at Golden Eagles Arena.
VARSITY
MITCHELL: Cole Morgan 7-9 4-4 25, Zach Moen 1-1 0-0 2, Seth Cavanaugh 4-8 10-12 21, Beau Brown 3-8 2-5 8, Josh Schmidt 0-11-2 1, Jared Schmidt 0-1 0-0 0, Ethan Jones 1-3 3-4 5, Evan Mastel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-32 20-27 62.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Josh Hilgemann 1-3 5-6 7, Carter Paulson 2-6 1-1 5, Braden LeGrand 4-10 0-2 8, Brady Mohr 4-14 8-12 17, Aaron Lorenz 4-9 0-0 11, Jacob Goehring 1-3 0-0 2, Logan LeGrand 1-2 0-0 2, Tyler Block 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-48 14-21 52.
Mitchell (5-13)15 31 40 62
Aberdeen Central (5-11) 9 19 30 52
3-point field goals - Mitchell 10-18 (Morgan 7-9, Cavanaugh 3-6, Brown 0-1, Schmidt 0-1, Jones 0-1); Aberdeen 4-19 (Hilgemann 0-1, B. LeGrand 0-1, Mohr 1-8, Lorenz 3-7, Goehring 0-1, L. LeGrand 0-1). Fouled out - B. LeGrand. Total fouls - Mitchell 17; Aberdeen 24. Rebounds - Mitchell 26 (Cavanaugh 10); Aberdeen 27 (Hilgemann 5, B. LeGrand 5, Mohr 5). Turnovers - Mitchell 22; Aberdeen 17. Assists - Mitchell 5 (Brown 3); Aberdeen 7 (B. LeGrand 2, Mohr 2). Steals - Mitchell 7 (Moen 2, Cavanaugh 2, Jones 2); Aberdeen 8 (Mohr 3). Blocked shots - Mitchell 1 (Schmidt 1); Aberdeen 2 (Mohr 2). Officials - Landon Arnold, Seth Katus, Bryan Zahn.
JUNIOR VARSITY
MITCHELL: Ryker Kruetzfeldt 3 4-9 12, Derek Miller 3 4-4 12, Neil Schlimgen 2 0-1 4, Jaron Weich 2 0-0 5, Ben Prill 1 0-0 2, Ethan Jones 3 1-3 8, Jon Jamison 0 0-2 0, Kanin Nelson 0 1-2 1, Ben Miller 1 0-0 3. Totals 15-41 11-21 48.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Isaac Jones 0 1-2 1, Chase Severson 1 0-0 2, Tyler Block 2 0-2 4, Logan Stubbe 1 0-0 3, Jacob Goehring 5 2-2 16, Logan LeGrand 2 0-0 4, Jordan Leidholt 0 1-2 1, Brock DeGroot 2 2-4 6. Totals 13-40 6-12 37.
Mitchell 4 19 37 48
Aberdeen Central 5 15 22 37
3-point field goals - Kruetzfeldt 2, Miller 2, Weich, Jones, Miller, Stubbe, Goehring 4. Fouled out - None. Total fouls - Mitchell 16; Aberdeen 21. Rebounds - Mitchell 29 (Jamison 6); Aberdeen 32 (Severson 6). Turnovers - Mitchell 10; Aberdeen 18. Assists - Mitchell 6 (Miller 2); Aberdeen 7. Steals - Mitchell 7 (Jones 3); Aberdeen 5 (Jones 2, DeGroot 2). Blocked shots - Mitchell 0; Aberdeen 2.
SOPHOMORE
MITCHELL: Jaron Weich 1 7-9 10, Ben Miller 0 4-6 4, Tyler Houwman 5 2-2 16, Kanin Nelson 1 3-4 6, Tyler Larson 2 1-4 5, Keagan Soukup 1 0-0 2, Alex Hartman 1 3-6 5. Totals 11-38 20-31 48.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Logan Stubbe 0 2-5 2, Jesse Babcock 2 0-0 5, Kaden Peterson 2 0-0 6, Tevin Johnson 3 5-5 11, Matt Melemseter 1 0-0 2, Anthony Bachmeier 2 0-0 5, TJ Allam 3 1-2 7. Totals 13-52 8-14 38.
Mitchell 11 21 31 48
Aberdeen Central 10 19 26 38
3-point field goals - Weich, Houwman 4, Nelson, Babcock, Peterson 2, Bachmeier. Fouled out - None. Total fouls - Mitchell 14; Aberdeen 21. Rebounds - Mitchell 41 (Miller 8, Nelson 8). Turnovers - Mitchell 17; Aberdeen 11. Assists - Mitchell 2; Aberdeen 7 (Babcock 3). Steals - Mitchell 8; Aberdeen 5 (Peterson 2). Blocked shots - Mitchell 1 (Nelson 1); Aberdeen 0.
FRESHMAN
MITCHELL A: Krogman 1 0-0 2, Syring 5 1-2 12, Determan 5 5-7 15, Heng 1 1-2 3, McFarlane 2 0-0 5, Mehlhaff 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 7-11 41.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL A: TJ Allam 6 1-3 13, Layne Tieszen 2 2-3 6, Anthony Bachmeier 4 0-1 8, Nick Goeman 6 5-6 19, Cole Martens 1 2-2 4, Gabe Swanson 0 0-1 0, Mason Trapp 3 0-2 6, Brantson Meier 0 1-2 1, Jake Heinert 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 11-20 59.
Mitchell A 6 10 21 41
Aberdeen Central A 14 35 47 59
3-point field goals - Syring, McFarlane, Goeman 2. Fouled out - Heng. Total fouls - Mitchell 23; Aberdeen 15.
MITCHELL B: Weier 1 4-7 6, Smith 2 2-4 6, Mehlhaff 1 0-0 2, Yeo 1 0-0 2, Dierks 6 2-2 16. Totals 11 8-13 32.
ABERDEEN CENTRAL B: Hunter Heirigs 1 0-1 2, Conner Preston 1 2-2 5, Logan Leidholt 0 2-3 2, Branston Meier 1 0-0 2, Joseph Wollman 1 1-2 3, Thomas Krueger 7 0-0 14, Mason Trapp 5 2-5 12, Gab Swanson 1 1-2 3, Lucas Heiser 2 1-4 5, Jake Heinert 4 0-0 8. Totals 23 9-19 56.
Mitchell B 4 13 21 32
Aberdeen Central B 12 29 41 56
3-point field goals - Dierks 2, Preston. Fouled out - Mehlhaff, Yeo, Meier. Total fouls - Mitchell 18; Aberdeen 15.