Third-rated Mitchell used a 29-8 surge in the second half pull away from Aberdeen Central on the way to a 60-47 Eastern South Dakota Conference boys’ basketball win at Golden Eagles Arena on Tuesday night.

The fourth quarter came after the two teams played an eventful first three quarters, which saw several lead changes and 3-pointers, along with a buzzer-beater to end the first half.

Mitchell and Central trading scoring runs in the first quarter. The Kernels began the game on a 6-2 run, but the Golden Eagles answered with a pair of 3-point baskets by Carter Dingman and Jett Carlson. Sandwiched in-between the 3-point baskets was a Mitchell basket, leaving the score tied 8-8. Aberdeen Central then finished the quarter on a 6-2 run of its own to lead 14-10 at the end of the quarter.

Central coach Brent Norberg was pleased with how his team played in the first quarter.

“I thought we came aggressive offensively,” Norberg said. “I thought we got to the rim way better than we did Friday night, which was helpful. We made some shots, and I thought we got better looks early.”

In the second quarter, Aberdeen Central extended its lead to 18-10, and eventually led 23-15 late in the first half. But that is where things changed. The Kernels proceeded to go on a 9-0 run to end the first half, taking the lead at the buzzer with a Dylan Soulek 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Norberg credited the Kernels for the way they ended the first half.

“I thought the last three minutes we took some questionable shots, and they made some great shots and were able to have the lead at halftime,” Norberg said. “The kids played really hard and played well in our zone defense. They were just killing us inside. We just had a bad stretch with some quick three’s that didn’t go in, and they were able to get back in it.”

Mitchell got back into the game late in the first half, and the Kernels began to take over early in the second half. The Kernels and Golden Eagles exchanged four 3-pointers to begin the third quarter. Central hit three of those 3-pointers and retook the lead 32-27 before Mitchell called timeout with 5:35 left in the third quarter. That is when the Kernels began to take over, going on a 17-6 run to end the quarter for a 44-38 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Mitchell not only made its share of 3-pointers, the Kernels used the strong post game of senior Charlie McCardle and freshman Colton Smith to wear down the Golden Eagle defense.

“They just hammered us inside,” Norberg said. “When we did stop them, they’d get the offensive rebound and score, so they really took care of us inside in the second half, and we just weren’t able to stop them in there.”

The Kernels began the final period with a 12-2 run that ended any hope of a Golden Eagles comeback, stretching the lead to the largest of the night at 56-40.

Smith led Mitchell with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Gavin Soukup had 12 points, including four 3-pointers. McCardle finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Dylan Soulek had nine points and eight rebounds.

For Aberdeen Central, Carter Dingman led with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, while Spencer Barr had 11 points. Jett Carlson had seven points and five rebounds, and Cooper Eisenbeisz added six points.

Norberg said the team needs to continue to play hard and find consistency.

“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing and try to get better in the post defense,” Norberg said. “We have to continue to work offensively for some consistency and getting some easy baskets somewhere.”

Aberdeen Central (3-9) plays at Huron on Friday.

MITCHELL (12-3): Aiden Myers 1 0-0 2, Markus Talley 1 2-2 5, Dylan Soulek 4 0-0 9, Charlie McCardle 5 0-0 10, Steele Morgan 2 0-0 4, Gavin Soukup 4 0-0 12, Colton Smith 8 2-4 18, Parker Mandel 0 0-0 0. Totals 25-47 4-6 60.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (3-9): Carter Dingman 5 0-0 13, Karson Carda 0 0-0 0, Jett Carlson 2 2-2 7, Parker Lemer 1 0-0 2, Spencer Barr 4 1-3 11, Camden Fauth 1 0-0 3, Cooper Eisenbeisz 3 0-0 6, Grant Fritz 1 3-4 5. Totals 17-54 6-9 47.

Mitchell 10 24 44 60

Aberdeen Central 14 23 38 47

3-point field goals – Soukup 4, Talley, Soulek; Dingman 3, Barr 2, Carlson, Fauth. Total fouls – Mitchell 9; Aberdeen Central 10. Rebounds – Mitchell 38 (Soulek 8); Aberdeen Central 23 (Fritz 6). Turnovers – Mitchell 18; Aberdeen Central 10. Assists – Mitchell 8 (Soulek 3, Morgan 3); Aberdeen Central 2 (Dingman 1, Fritz 1). Steals – Mitchell 5 (Talley 3, Soulek 1, Morgan 1); Aberdeen Central 11 (Barr 3, Dingman 2, Carlson 2, Lemer 2, Eisenbeisz 1, Fritz 1).