The Aberdeen Central girls’ basketball team is used to making lineup adjustments.

So in one sense, the Golden Eagles should feel right at home for tonight’s SoDak 16 match-up against Sioux Falls Jefferson.

The Golden Eagles will be down at least one player and possibly as many as three for the contest, which tips off at 6 p.m. in Sioux Falls. Central comes in as the 12th seed taking on the fourth seed for a chance at a state tournament berth.

The juggling in the lineups and rotations is nothing new for the Golden Eagles, who, whether due to injury or illness this season, has had just three rotational players that have been available for all 18 games of the regular season.

“It’s been different players, different positions,” said Central coach Mikayla Arechigo.

This week it is senior Taryn Hettich who is listed as out for the game. Hettich went down with an ankle injury in the opening minute of Monday’s regular-season finale. She returned to and finished out the contest, but will not be able to play in tonight’s game.

While the lack of a full roster has made it difficult for the team to find its rhythm – whether offensively or defensively – it has, at minimum, conditioned players to be able to play in multiple positions or situations.

“We’ve had to make adjustments all season,” Arechigo said. “We’ll continue to do that. We talk to the girls a lot about giving their best attitude and best effort regardless of the situation.”

This evening’s contest could be an opportunity for some of the younger players on the roster, Arechigo said. 

“It’s an exciting opportunity for some of our kids,” she said. “Now that we’ve had some games with all our players back, this is a chance to get back in there and see how much they have improved against a tough team.”

Arechigo knows the task ahead – facing off against Jefferson for the second time in a week – is a tough one. Jefferson enters the game with a 17-3 record, though the Golden Eagles played the Cavaliers to a three-point game last Friday.

Still, there are goals to accomplish and a focus to be had.

“We have a lot of goals, not just outcome goals, but income goals, as we call them,” she said. “Number of rebounds, free throw percentage, keeping our turnovers under a certain number, defensive goals. We’ll still work toward those goals as best we can.“

Regardless of the outcome, however, Arechigo said there are plenty of positives to take from the season.

“It’s unfortunate that our season has been so injury and illness plagued,” Arechigo said. “I’m proud of the girls and how hard they’ve worked and of their willingness to adjust and try new things.”