Spencer Barr is the focal point of the Aberdeen Central boys basketball program this season. A senior with the ability to pour in points or pass the ball off, he routinely draws other teams’ best defender – or two – and he’ll still have a significant impact on the game’s outcome.

And with good reason. He’s set a record for scoring (51 points, the most in Golden Eagles Arena) in a win over Pierre. He’s hit game winners, including one less than two weeks ago against O’Gorman on the road. 

But ask him about those games, and he’ll list off nearly every other contribution someone else made in the game. How Jett Carlson made big shots, for example, or how Cooper Eisenbeisz came off the bench and took a charge. How Grant Fritz stepped out for a 3-pointer or how Brian Johnson came up with a big rebound. 

Barr’s rundown is exhaustive. He’ll even list the strengths of teammates from past seasons. That’s not a surprise to Central coach Brent Norberg.

“There’s nothing about him that says selfishness,” Norberg said. “We ask him to play nearly every minute of every game, but he’s the first guy that’s excited about something someone else does.”

For example, Norberg said, when Brady Neys, hurt most of the season, stepped out on the court on senior night and hit a 3-pointer, “Nobody was happier than Spence in that moment.”

And perhaps nobody will enjoy it more if the Golden Eagles can fight their way to a state tournament berth. Central is currently sitting 12th in the Class AA standings with one game remaining and will need to win a road game in the SoDak 16 to get in, but Barr, who was a sophomore during Central’s last trip to the state tournament, says he’s up for the challenge.

“I’m excited,” Barr said. “We just played Friday and Saturday, so I’m a little tired. It’s a rest day (Sunday), obviously, but we’ll hopefully come out (Monday) hungry. Then after Roosevelt, we’ll just get to work and whatever happens, happens.”

There will be basketball in Barr’s future, regardless of the outcome of the remainder of the season. Barr has signed with the University of Jamestown men’s basketball program and will join up with the Jimmies next fall.

He’ll be joined there by his best friend – and brother-in-law – Malek Wieker of Aberdeen Christian.

It will be a culmination of a basketball journey that began more than a decade ago.

“I started playing basketball at a very young age,” Barr said. “Playing Y-ball and Upward. Anything I could do to get a ball in my hands, I’d do it.”

Barr said his dad started coaching a youth team that traveled around the state playing tournaments. Soon after, around his freshman season, he joined the Pentagon Schoolers on the AAU circuit.

“That’s when it really took off that I could see myself doing this in the future,” Barr said.

But he’s not quite ready to turn his attention that far ahead just yet. He believes in the team he’s got right now, and there’s unfinished business.

After all, Barr remembers that sophomore season and the trip to the state tournament. 

“Making state that year was so incredible,” Barr said. “It was such a great feeling. Something I dream of doing again.”

He also remembers having to watch from the sidelines last season after a broken wrist sidelined him for most of the year.

“Heartbreaking,” Barr said.

Barr did return last season in time for Central’s SoDak 16 game against Yankton, and recalls the atmosphere inside Golden Eagles Arena.

“That playoff game last year was so much fun to play in against Yankton,” Barr said. “Especially being at home.”

But the outcome of that game was just as heartbreaking, as Yankton edged out the Golden Eagles by two points to steal away a state tourney spot.

It was also a fairly motivating moment for Barr.

“I’ve brought it on myself to do everything I could to get us to where we need to be,” Barr said.

“We’ve got really good senior leadership all around, and it starts with him,” Norberg said. “He does things not just verbally but by example. The guys all know he’s going to give it everything he has. When your best player is your hardest worker, that’s a good place to be.”

Of Central’s six wins this season, two have come over teams that will host SoDak 16 contests.

Barr is undeterred. What can be done once can be done again.

“Our whole team is full of competitors,” he said.

“He’s a special kid that way,” Norberg said. He’s a great player, one of best I’ve ever coached. But he’s an even better person and that’s saying something because he’s a phenomenal basketball player.”