RAPID CITY – A slow start proved to be too much to overcome for Aberdeen Central.

The Golden Eagles fell to Rapid City Stevens 54-39 in a non-conference boys’ basketball game on Saturday afternoon.

Central jumped out to a 6-2 lead, thanks to a pair of three-point baskets, one by Camden Fauth and the other by Parker Lemer. However, Stevens responded with a 15-0 run to take a commanding lead, eventually leading 27-15 at halftime.

Central opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run, cutting the deficit down to 29-24. Despite the Golden Eagles outscoring the Raiders 11-6 in the third quarter, Stevens pulled away in the fourth quarter, thanks, in part, to 10 points from the free-throw line.

Dayler Segrist had a game-high 16 points to lead Stevens, while Kaelem Brooks followed with 15.

Lemer led Central with 11 points, while Brendan Phillips had seven points. Fauth and Grant Fritz each had six.

Central, 1-1 on the season will look to rebound when they host Spearfish on Friday at Golden Eagles Arena before hosting Sturgis on Saturday.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (1-1): Oliver Rife 0 3-6 3, Jett Carlson 1 0-0 2, Parker Lemer 4 2-2 11, Camden Fauth 2 0-0 6, Grant Fritz 3 0-1 6, Cooper Eisenbeisz 1 0-0 2, Brendan Phillips 3 0-0 7, Cam Olson 0 2-2 2. Totals 14 7-11 39.

RAPID CITY STEVENS (2-0): Minkah Hawley 1 0-0 3, Dayler Segrist 6 2-3 16, Kaelem Brooks 5 5-7 15, Madinko Hawley 0 2-2 2, Shun-Zi White Woman 3 1-2 7, J.D. Green 0 2-2 2, Dalton Szymonski 1 0-0 2, Ashton Paulsen 0 1-2 1, Thomas Martian 3 0-1 6. Totals 19 13-19 54.

Aberdeen Central 6 15 26 39

Rapid City Stevens 13 27 33 54

3-point field goals – Fauth (2), Phillips, Lemer; Segrist (2), Minkah Hawley. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 14; Rapid City Stevens 11. Rebounds – Aberdeen Central 22 (Fritz 5); Rapid City Stevens 38 (White Woman 9). Turnovers – Aberdeen Central 7; Rapid City Stevens 14. Assists – Aberdeen Central 5 (Carlson 2); Rapid City Stevens 7 (Brooks 2, Paulsen 2). Steals – Aberdeen Central 7 (Eisenbeisz 2); Rapid City Stevens 3 (Minkah Hawley 1, Segrist 1, Green 1).