HARRISBURG – Aberdeen Central made a late run at third-rated Harrisburg Friday night, but could not pull off the comeback, falling 46-40 to the Tigers in an Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ basketball game.

Central trailed 25-11 at halftime.

“The first half was a struggle offensively, and there was a lot of watching, especially on offensive rebounds,” said Central coach Mikayla Arechigo. “We got going in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.”

Central’s comeback effort included a defensive clamp-down, as the Golden Eagles held Harrisburg without a field goal in that fourth quarter.

Central countered with a trio of 3-pointers amongst its 16 points in the final stanza, including buckets from Ayrlie Waldo, Caydi Withers and Lauryn Burckhard.

Harrisburg, however, made 8 of 15 free throws to keep the Golden Eagles at bay.

Withers led the way offensively for Central with 12 points on four 3-pointers. Burckhard had 11 points, and Taryn Hermansen finished with eight.

Harrisburg was led by Jaylee Hofer with 18 points, 13 of which came in the second quarter.

Central hosts Mitchell Tuesday to face the undefeated Kernels, ranked second in the latest Class AA poll.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (8-5): Ayrlie Waldo 1 0-0 3, Emma Dohrer 1 1-2 3, Madison Miller 0 3-4 3, Caydi Withers 4 0-1 12, Lauryn Burckhard 4 2-2 11, Taryn Hermansen 4 0-2 8. Totals 14 5-8 40.

HARRISBURG (9-3): Addy Wagner 0 1-2 1, Brynn VanBockern 3 4-6 12, Jaylee Hofer 5 4-5 16, Abigail Flanagan 2 2 6 6, Makinley Lawrenson 2 2-4 7, Macy Bryant 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 13-23 46.

Aberdeen Central 6 11 24 40

Harrisburg 10 25 37 46

3-point field goals – Waldo, Withers (4), Burckhard; VanBockern (2), Hofer (4), Lawrenson. Fouled out – AC, Waldo. Fouls – Aberdeen Central 18; Harrisburg 8.