In the final half Aberdeen Central took better shots, took the momentum and eventually took care of Spearfish Friday night.

The Golden Eagles pulled away from a two-point halftime edge to roll to a 62-42 non-conference boys’ basketball win in their home opener at Golden Eagles Arena.

“I thought offensively, we were a lot better in the second half. We quit holding the ball. I thought the ball moved and guys cut,” said Central coach Brent Norberg. “We had a problem the first half. We’d throw it and then stand there and watch, and kind of be cheerleaders and hope guys could one-on-one do it, and we weren’t doing it together.”

That all changed at the start of the third period when Central scored on its first five possessions to open up a 35-25 lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.

“Once we started doing that, it was easier to throw to the post, it was easier to kick out for threes,” Norberg said of the team’s ball movement and cuts. “We got some stuff at the rim and that was a big key.”

It was Camden Fauth who played a key role in igniting Central’s offense in both halves. He scored the team’s first five points to start the game, then added another five points during the Eagles’ surge in the third quarter.

“First home game, I was pumped,” Fauth said. “I was ready to play.”

Fauth made his first shot of the game and only missed one other attempt the rest of the contest. He said seeing the first one go in is a big confidence boost.

“Especially right away in the first quarter, when you score that first basket, that’s just an energy booster,” Fauth said. “Obviously, you saw as the game kept going on, it kept going up and up from there.”

Fauth finished with a game-high 15 points and made all three of his attempts from three-point range.

Norberg said each of Fauth’s points came when the Eagles were in need of them.

“He had 15 points and they were all very timely plays,” Norberg said.

From his opening shot to start the game to his final basket in the second half, Fauth provided consistent offense for the Eagles.

“When we needed somebody to make points for us,” Norberg said, “he was there to do that.”

Fauth had plenty of help on the evening. Grant Fritz contributed 12 points, including a power slam off a turnover to punctuate Central’s 12-3 third-quarter surge. Parker Lemer added 10 points and steady floor play.

Norberg also pointed out the performances of junior reserves Brendan Phillips, Cam Olson and Rylee Rieker.

“It’s nice to know we can go to those guys when we need them,” Norberg said.

In the end, Central stepped up its effort on both ends of the floor to pull away for the victory.

“We only let them have about 20 points each half,” Fauth said. “That’s about 10 points a quarter. Overall, this team played very defensively and that’s what helped us get the win.”

While the defense was doing its job, the Eagles were executing on the offensive end as well to record the 20-point victory.

“I thought the shot selection was way better,” Norberg said of the second half, “and when you take better shots, it’s funny how you make more.”

Central, 2-1 on the season, won’t have much time to celebrate. The Eagles will be right back in action at 1:30 this afternoon hosting Sturgis in another non-conference game.

“It’s just great to win their first home game. I thought we had a good crowd. I thought they were pretty loud tonight and that’s awesome,” Norberg said. “It was fun for our kids. A lot of guys got to play there at the end, so that’s always fun, but it will be tough (Saturday), 1:30, it’s going to be a different atmosphere, you’re really going to have to find your energy.”

SPEARFISH (1-1): Bennett Kortan 5 0-0 11, Dylon Doren 4 2-4 11, Seth Hamilton 6 1-1 13, Nate Sperling 0 0-3 0, Haroon Khan 1 2-4 5. Totals 17-45 5-12 42.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (2-1): Jett Carlson 2 2-4 7, Parker Lemer 3 4-5 10, Camden Fauth 5 2-2 15, Cooper Eisenbeisz 1 0-0 2, Grant Fritz 6 0-0 12, Rylee Rieker 1 0-0 3, Brendan Phillips 4 1-1 9, Cam Olson 2 0-0 4. Totals 24-58 9-12 62.

Spearfish 10 22 35 42

Aberdeen Central 11 23 50 62

3-point field goals – Kortan, Doren, Khan; Carlson, Fauth (3), Rieker. Total fouls – Spearfish 14; Aberdeen Central 14. Rebounds – Spearfish 29 (Doren 6, Hamilton 6); Aberdeen Central 35 (Fritz 6). Turnovers – Spearfish 21; Aberdeen Central 15. Assists – Spearfish 7 (Hamilton 4); Aberdeen Central 9 (Carlson3, Phillips 3). Steals – Spearfish 6; Aberdeen Central 12 (Carlson 4).