RAPID CITY – Saturday night, the Rushmore Thunder scored the final five goals in a win over the Aberdeen Cougars, and Sunday, the Thunder scored the first six goals on the way to a 6-2 boys’ hockey victory.

“After we spotted them four in the first period, we finally started to play some hockey in the second and third,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “I wasn’t happy with the start, but I’m proud of the way the boys responded. It would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves and let that game really get away from us in a big way, but they kept working and made a game out of it.”

Levi Little and Quincy Madsen both second period goals for the Cougars. However, Aberdeen was unable to inch any closer the rest of the way.

“We had some strong individual efforts, but against good teams, we need everyone,” Backous said. “We’re at the midway point of our season, and I hope we can use this weekend to sharpen our focus and team effort going forward.”

The Cougars, 11-6 on the season, play at Huron on Sunday.

Aberdeen Cougars 0 2 0 – 2

Rushmore Thunder 4 2 0 – 6

First Period: 1 RT, Colton Merchen (Wyatt Reeder), 15:27; 2, RT, Merchen (unassisted), 12:42; 3, RT, Reeder (Carter Kirk), 8:34; 4, RT, Kirk (Merchen, Cameron Ritter), 6:26.

Second Period: 5, RT, Merchen (Jaxson Prussner), 8:31; 6, RT, Prussner (Merchen), 8:11; 7, AC, Levi Little (Talan Dutenhoeffer), 4:09; 8, AC, Quincy Madsen (Micah Kranzler), 2:15.

Third Period: No scoring.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 24; Rushmore Thunder 37.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Colton Townsend (31 saves); Rushmore Thunder, Brody Lee (22 saves).