TEA – Aberdeen Central received a career-best performance Saturday, but it wasn’t quite enough in a 53-46 non-conference girls’ basketball setback to Tea Area.

The Golden Eagles stayed within striking distance throughout the entire game, but couldn’t get over the hump.

Eighth-grader Taryn Hermansen, making her second ever start, finished with career best totals of 14 points and eight rebounds.

“We were without Abby Berry again, which hurt our depth, but we had solid minutes from Taryn Hermansen and Karly Wellman and Sydney Evans,” said Central coach Mikayla Archiego. “Karly got after the rebounds better today and Taryn finished some tough shots. Syd defended well and created some turnovers.”

However, a big problem was stopping Tea Area’s 6-foot-2 center Katie Vasecka. The sophomore scored a game-high 29 points and hauled down six rebounds.

Vasecka drew fouls on Central, which forced the Eagles to play smaller players and also put her on the line where she made 12 of 14 free throws.

“Vasecka was a tough matchup for us,” Archiego said. “We had three girls with two fouls in the first quarter and had to spend a lot of time with 5-5 and 5-4 girls on her.”

The Titans had just four players score in the contest. Brynn Schupner had 12 points, and Kendra McKiney and Stella Peterson each finished with six.

Kyra Griese added 11 points to the Central total.

The Eagles, 1-9 on the season, play at O’Gorman on Tuesday.

Archiego said the squad is continuing to develop its high-low game.

“Our top down game is coming along well,” she said. “We just need to finish a few more plays and we’re on the other side of games like this.”

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (1-9): Anna Malchow 1 0-0 2, Taryn Hettich 1 2-2 4, Krya Griese 2 6-6 11, Karly Wellman 1 2-2 4, Taryn Hermansen 7 0-0 14, Sydney Evans 2 0-0 4, Grace Kuch 1 0-0 2, Kiana Mounga 2 0-1 5. Totals 17-37 11-16 46.

TEA AREA (5-6): Kendra McKiney 2 0-0 6, Brynn Schupner 5 2-2 12, Katie Vasecka 8 12-14 29, Stella Peterson 2 1-1 6. Totals 17-43 15-17 53.

Aberdeen Central 16 22 37 46

Tea Area 14 25 40 53

3-point field goals – Griese; McKiney 2, Vasecka, Peterson. Fouled out – Wellman. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 18; Tea Area 13. Rebounds – Aberdeen Central 23 (Hermansen 8); Tea Area 18 (Vasecka 6). Turnovers – Aberdeen Central 24; Tea Area 14. Assists – Aberdeen Central 12 (Wellman 4); Tea Area. Steals – Aberdeen Central 5 (Griese 2).