HOVEN – Aberdeen Christian had one of its best halves of girls’ basketball in the opening 16 minutes Friday night, before Potter County put together one of its best halves in the closing 16 minutes.

The Battlers pulled away from a four-point halftime lead with 42 second-half points on the way to a 67-35 non-conference girls’ basketball win over Christian.

The Knights went toe-to-toe with the once-beaten Battlers throughout the opening half and were within striking distance midway through the third quarter.

That’s when Potter County broke the game open with 16 unanswered points to take control. Five different players scored during the pivotal surge, which left the Battlers with a commanding 52-28 advantage early in the final quarter.

Tyler Simon connected for a game-high 28 points to lead Potter County, which improved to 7-1 on the season. Ashlee Kaup contributed 15 points, while Emma Schlachter added eight. The Battlers played without regular starter Kayden Cronin.

Chloe Holt and Sophia Fogarty each scored eight points, and Chloe Bosma added seven for the Knights. Holt left the game with an injury late in the third quarter and did not return to action.

The Knights will return to the court around 1 this afternoon when they host Leola-Frederick in a Lake Region Conference contest at the Civic Arena. A boys’ game will follow.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (0-9): Rachel Beaner 1 0-0 3, Jolie Fogarty 1 0-0 3, Bailey Hunstad 2 0-0 4, Chloe Holt 3 1-3 8, Sophia Eichler 1 0-0 2, Sophia Fogarty 3 1-2 8, Chloe Bosma 2 3-4 7. Totals 13 5-9 35.

POTTER COUNTY (7-1): Ashlee Kaup 6 0-2 15, Tyler Simon 9 8-10 28, Olivia Mikkelsen 1 0-0 2, Emma Schlachter 4 0-0 8, Rylee Kaup 1 1-2 3, Peyton Stevens 1 4-6 6, Dannika Kaup 1 0-0 2, Rayel Persoon 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 13-20 67.

Aberdeen Christian 3 21 28 35

Potter County 13 25 46 67

3-point field goals -Beaner, J. Fogarty, Holt, S. Fogarty; A. Kaup 3, Simon 2, Persoon. Fouled out – Hunstad, Eichler. Total fouls – Aberdeen Christian 13; Potter County 8.