Lauryn Burckhard knocks down one of Aberdeen Central’s six three-pointers in the first half of its 76-51 win over Yankton Saturday, Jan.3 inside Golden Eagles Arena. Burckhard finished with 17 points. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

Fueled by six three-pointers in the first half, Aberdeen Central saw its highest scoring output of the season in a 76-51 win over Yankton, Saturday Jan. 3 at Golden Eagles Arena.

Central opened the game with an 11-2 run with nine of those points coming from long distance.

“We knocked down shots and, really, didn’t even have to look inside at all during the first half because we hit those threes,” said Central head coach Paiton Burckhard. “When we come out as hot as we did, our emphasis to get the ball in the post isn’t as critical, but, wow, what a start. I mean, yes, I knew we had girls who could knock down those shots, but it’s definitely a confidence boost knowing we have the ability to be a threat from the three-point line.”

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The Golden Eagles led 23-7 after the first quarter and led 34-20 at halftime.

“We talked about coming out and setting a tone and setting the pace of the game, and you saw the impact that had on the first half for us,” Burckhard said.

The start of the third quarter saw a concerted effort by the Eagles to get the ball inside to Taryn Hermansen, and the 6-foot-1 senior delivered.

Held to six points in the first half, Hermansen scored the first eight Central points to begin the third quarter and finished with a game-high 25 points, adding 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Aberdeen Central’s Kennadi Withers takes a jump shot over Yankton’s September Rauch during the first quarter Saturday, Jan. 3 inside Golden Eagles Arena. Withers had 12 points in a 76-51 Central victory. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

“We go down, get a stop, come back on offense, throw it to me and I get a shot, then we get another stop, come down the floor again, and I get another one,” Hermansen said. “Our guards work their butts off and for them to get some of that glory hitting those threes was awesome. Then, when that happens, other teams have to guard four or five of us, and that gives me some one-on-one chances and I took advantage.”

Burckhard was succinct in describing Hermansen’s game.

“Taryn was a walking bucket. She couldn’t be stopped down there at all,” Burckhard said.

Lauryn Burckhard added 17 points for the Eagles, who are 5-1 and ranked fourth in the latest Class AA girls high school basketball poll.

Kennadi Withers had 12 points, going four of four from the field and four of four from the free throw line.

Next up for Central is a rematch of last year’s SoDak 16 game with Sioux Falls Jefferson on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Golden Eagles Arena. That game was won by the Cavaliers on a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Ipswich ran its record to 6-0, downing Sully Buttes 44-33. Marley Guthmiller tossed in 11 points for the Tigers.
Groton pulled away from Warner in the second half in picking up a 54-42 victory. Taryn Traphagen’s 20 points powered the Tigers, while Rylee Dunker added 14 and Jerica Locke 11. Courtney Leidholt finished with 14 points for Warner.

Monday, Jan. 5

Ipswich used a 22-7 third quarter run to improve to 5-0 with a 49-34 win against Ellendale (N.D.). Anna Nierman scored 12 points and Brianna Geditz 11 to lead a balanced Wildcat attack.

Saturday, Jan. 3

Jaydn Jaeger scored a game-high 13 points as Sully Buttes pulled away from Aberdeen Christian for a 35-23 victory at the Aberdeen Christian Gym. Ari Johnson and Sophia Eichler scored eight apiece for the Knights.
Addison Heinje had a game-high 22 points as Waubay/Summit knocked off Leola/Frederick 57-28. Arabella Clarke had 10 points for the Titans.
Langford Area upped its record to 5-1 with a 47-19 win over Wilmot. Paytyn Marlow scored 14 points for the Lions, while Alex Darling added a dozen.

Friday, Jan. 2

Groton Area improved to 4-2 with a 41-34 win over Vermillion. Taryn Traphagen sank four shots from behind the arc to finish with 12 points to lead Groton. Jerica Locke added 10 points.
Amree Vander Vorst had a double-double scoring 28 points while grabbing 10 rebounds and leading North Central to a 58-50 win over Warner. Kaydee Mackner had 13 points in the loss for the Monarchs.

Aberdeen Central’s Taryn Hermansen battles Minot’s Alliyah Carlson Bell in the post during the third quarter of their game Tuesday, Dec. 30 at Wachs Arena. Bell had 18 points and Hermansen seven in a 54-43 Minot win in the Buffalo Wild Wings Classic. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Basketball Classic

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Aberdeen Central hung with one of North Dakota’s top Class AA girls high school basketball teams, leading 15-13 after one quarter on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

But turnovers helped turn the tide as the Golden Eagles committed 24 in a 54-43 loss to Minot (N.D.) during the Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Basketball Classic at the Barnett Center.

Minot was able to get out in transition midway through the second quarter and went on an 8-2 run that gave the Majettes a 24-20 lead with just more than two minutes left. Six of those eight points were the result of Central turnovers.

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The Majettes extended their man-to-man defense in the second half, getting in passing lanes, which led to a 6-3 run and a 35-25 lead with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

“There were times we took care of the ball and you saw we had success, but more times than not, especially in the second half, we didn’t, and then they would score out of it,” Paiton Burckhard said. “We just kept digging a hole with turnover after turnover and couldn’t get our offense going to dig us out.”

Minot’s 6-foot-3 senior post Alliyah “Leelee” Carlson Bell created problems. The University of Oklahoma commit finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

“She can hit threes and tonight you saw a lot of finishes near the rim that you don’t see from your typical high school athlete,” Burckhard said.

Lauryn Burckhard led the Eagles with 17 points.

Defense powers Groton to win against Lemmon

Taryn Traphagen takes a three pointer during Groton Area’s game against Lemmon Tuesday, Dec. 30 inside Wachs Arena. Traphagen had 18 points in a 51-47 win. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

Trailing Lemmon 20-14 at the end of the first quarter, Groton Area head coach Matt Locke said he had a very simple message for his team.

“I just told them that’s not how we play,” he said.

The Tigers responded by allowing just 27 points in the final three quarters and picking up a 51-47 victory in the Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Basketball Classic Tuesday, Dec. 30.

“We knew we could play better defensively and we did. We were also able to score, which has been a little difficult for us,” Locke said. “I just think we had to calm ourselves after that first quarter and understand that they are a good team, but we needed to get back to playing team defense, which we were able to do.”

Part of that defensive effort came on the boards. Groton out-rebounded Lemmon 44-27 and allowed just four offensive rebounds.

Taryn Traphagen led the Tigers with a game-high 18 points.

Paytyn Marlow’s 20 points helped boost Langford to a 51-36 victory against Lead/Deadood. Alexandria Darling added 14 points for the Lions, who outscored the Bears 19-9 in the third quarter.
Parker/Marion used a balanced attack and pulled away from Leola/Frederick in the second half to earn a 46-31 victory. Arabella Clark’s game-high 14 points led the Titans.
Florence/Henry 47, Herreid/Selby Area 45.
Central Cass (N.D.) rolled to a 24-7 halftime lead in downing Northwestern 54-15. Kenley Haug led three Squirrels in double figures with 14 points.
Hamlin 51, Mobridge-Pollock 47.

Friday, Dec. 29

Aberdeen Roncalli led 16-8 after the first quarter and eased to a 50-36 victory at Webster. Karsyn Davis’ 10 points boosted the 6-1 Cavaliers, who are ranked ninth in the latest Class A girls basketball poll.