FREDERICK – Leola-Frederick edged Aberdeen Christian in a hard-fought Lake Region Conference girls’ basketball game Thursday night.

The Titans prevailed 43-41 in overtime to record the victory.

Christian senior Chloe Holt drilled a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation to tie the game at 37-37 and force overtime. From there, the Titans outlasted the Knights, thanks, in part, to four points from the free-throw line, including three by Laura Sumption.

Despite the loss, Knights coach Cristian Martinez was impressed with the contest and his team.

“Really exciting game,” Martinez said. “This group improved a lot from the first game.”

The Titans and Knights battled throughout a first half that resulted in ties and one-score leads, with no margin larger than three points. Despite not taking the lead until late in the first half, Christian took the momentum into halftime with a 16-14 advantage.

The second half was more of the same, as both squads traded slim leads in the third quarter.

Late in the third, Leola-Frederick stretched its lead to five, and led by as many as six early in the fourth quarter, before the Knights climbed back to tie the game and eventually force overtime.

Laura Sumption paced the Titans with 20 points, four steals, and three assists, while Olivia Morlock had nine points.

Holt led the Knights with 13 points, while Chloe Bosma had nine. Sophia Fogarty and Jolie Fogarty each had six.

“All of the seniors played great and two of our freshmen looked amazing tonight,” Martinez said of his team. “Super happy how they played defensively and offensively. They gave all they had in this game.”

Leola-Frederick (2-0) will travel to Waubay-Summit on Saturday, while Aberdeen Christian (0-2) will play Redfield in the Cavalier Classic at Aberdeen Roncalli at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (0-2): Bailey Hunstad 1 0-0 2, Sophia Fogarty 2 1-3 6, Chloe Holt 5 2-2 13, Chloe Bosma 3 1-6 9, Payton Skarin 2 0-0 5, Jolie Fogarty 2 1-2 6. Totals 15 5-13 41.

LEOLA-FREDERICK (2-0): Jillian Ellwein 0 2-2 2, Kalyce Achen 1 2-4 4, Olivia Morlock 4 1-6 9, Jocelynn Ellwein 2 0-2 4, Sofi Losure 2 0-0 4, Laura Sumption 6 6-11 20. Totals 15 11-25 43.

Aberdeen Christian 8 16 25 37 41

Leola-Frederick 10 14 28 37 43

3-point field goals – Bosma (2), S. Fogarty, Holt, Skarin, J. Fogarty; L. Sumption (2). Total fouls – Aberdeen Christian 20. Rebounds – Aberdeen Christian 31; Leola-Frederick 27 (Jillian Ellwein 7). Turnovers – Aberdeen Christian 18; Leola-Frederick 15. Assists – Aberdeen Christian 10; Leola-Frederick 10 (Losure 3, L. Sumption 3). Steals – Aberdeen Christian 9; Leola-Frederick 10 (L. Sumption 4).