Eagles lose tight battle to Govs

Playing in a packed T.F. Riggs gymnasium, the Golden Eagles came up one basket short of winning the District 3AA Championship for the second straight year. The Golden Eagles could never quite get over the hump in a 47-44 loss to Pierre. The Eagles were within 2 baskets the entire second half, but never led either. Pierre made numerous big baskets down the stretch, always having an answer for a big Eagle basket, and hit 11 of 13 freethrows in the final quarter to keep the Eagles at arms length. The Eagles pulled to within one point at 42-41 on two freethrows by junior Tonia Burgard with under a minute to play. Pierre's Erin Schiefelbein also made two freethrows with 28 seconds to play to make it a 44-41 game, but the Eagles turned the ball over and fouled with 19 seconds left. Melissa Luers made one of two from the line to make it 45-41. The Eagles still had life, though, as senior Dawn Sillman hit a tough three-pointer with 8 seconds left to pull the Eagles again within one at 45-44. Two freethrows by Luers again pushed the lead to its final score of 47-44. A last second three-pointer by Sillman bounced off the back rim and the Eagles never got another shot off. The Eagles now must play on Thursday night in the Region 2AA Challenge game. The Eagles host Spearfish, with the winner advancing to the State AA tournament in Sioux Falls on November 20-22. The loser is eliminated.

Boxscore:

Aberdeen Central: Sillman 4 0-2 11, Goodman 1 5-6 7, L. Graf 4 5-7 13, E. Graf 0 1-2 1, Norman 1 2-2 4, Burgard 1 4-6 6, Rice 1 0-0 2. Three point goals: Sillman 3

Pierre: Neilson 1 0-0 2, Rausch 5 1-2 11, Scheifelbein 5 4-5 14, Hitchcock 2 2-2 6, Drewes 1 0-0 2, Luers 2 6-8 10, Unkenholz 1 0-0 2. Three point goals: none

Fouled out: Neilson. Total fouls: Aberdeen Central 18, Pierre 20, Rebounds: Aberdeen Central 25(E. Graf 4), Pierre 21(Rausch 4, Neilson 4). Turnovers: Aberdeen Central 17, Pierre 12.

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