Aberdeen Christian used a strong all-around effort to fuel a win on Monday afternoon.

The Knights earned a 62-45 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over Little Wound at the Christian School Gym.

Knights coach Aaron Moeller was pleased with his team’s performance despite dealing with illnesses.

“Luke Kaiser, believe it or not, is really sick, Joey Johnson is very sick, and of course Brooks (Jett) is out, so we were playing sick and short-handed,” Moeller said. “So, I’m just extremely proud of the boys. They toughed it out. With the way they’re feeling, to grit it out says a lot about their character.”

Despite being ill, Kaiser and Johnson led Christian on both ends of the floor. The Knights jumped out to an early lead, using the inside presence of Johnson to build a 17-5 lead after the first quarter.

Little Wound coach Wakiyan Catches Enemy kept encouraging his team throughout the game to play with physicality against the 6-foot-4 Johnson.

“I just kept telling them get physical,” Catches Enemy said. “If he wants to play physical, we got to play physical back.”

Moeller said the offense typically begins with Johnson, which then allows the rest of the team to gain confidence in making shots.

“He’s only 6-foot-4, but he plays like he’s 6-foot-8 because he’s just so powerful; plays with a lot of leverage,” Moeller said of Johnson. “We always kind of use him, and then we kind of feed off that. It’s pretty simplistic in a lot of ways, but it works.”

Meanwhile, it was a slow start for the Mustangs, who managed just five first-quarter points.

“We had McDonald’s like an hour before that, so they kind of felt weighed down they said,” Catches Enemy said. “We kind of got after it sooner or later.”

The Mustangs made the over 500-mile trek that began from Kyle, S.D. to Flandreau, where they played Luverne, Minn. on Saturday, before embarking to Aberdeen. Catches Enemy described his team’s weekend.

“Early morning Saturday 6 a.m. we left Kyle. That was pretty rough; got all the boys up and one eye open all the way up here,” Catches Enemy said. “We played in Flandreau Public School against a Minnesota team. That team was really tough; just pressed non-stop. We got a young team too, so that was a good learning curve for them, too. Stayed the night in Sioux Falls after that. (Sunday) we just kind of had a relaxing day, just hung out, and came here (Monday).”

While the Knights offense was being led by Johnson, Kaiser took it upon himself to lead the defense. The freshman scored eight points in the game, including a basket in transition on a steal. The freshman described his defensive mindset heading into the game.

“Just get up in (their) grill and make them uncomfortable,” Kaiser said.

Kaiser said his defensive intensity starts in practice when he prepares for each game.

“We condition a lot during practice and that helps,” Kaiser said.

Moeller was pleased to see Kaiser play well despite not feeling well.

“Luke Kaiser is just a go-getter. He’s an energy guy,” Moeller said. “He was very disruptive out there on the top of that hybrid defense that we run. He got some key steals, and for a kid who was not feeling 100 percent, to get that kind of energy, I am extremely proud of Luke Kaiser. He was really key to us tonight getting this win. His defense was fantastic.”

Christian, which led 35-22 at halftime, was able to hold off the Mustangs in the second half by trading baskets with them in crucial moments to preserve the win.

Kinyan Catches Enemy led Little Wound (7-11 on the season) with 14 points, while Triston Kills Small had nine.

Johnson led Christian with 32 points, while Becker Bosma finished with 12. Konnar Furman added eight.

The Knights (14-5 on the year) will now turn their attention to their season finale at Groton on Friday, and Moeller said although his team will have a challenge on its hands, he expects the Knights to be confident heading into the matchup.

“That’s going to be a tough one for us. Obviously, they’ve got a couple of really good seniors. (Lane) Tietz is one of the best players in the state of South Dakota, so we’re going to have our hands full,” Moeller said. “But we’re going to go and see if we can make a game of it.”

LITTLE WOUND (7-11): Tatanka Catches Enemy 2 2-2 6, Jayvier Red Owl 1 0-0 2, Kinyan Catches Enemy 5 4-5 14, Ryan Jumping Eagle 3 0-2 7, Triston Kills Small 3 0-0 9, Jamison O’Rourke 1 2-2 4, Daigon Ghost 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 8-11 45.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (14-5): Ellis Russell 1 0-0 2, Becker Bosma 5 1-2 12, Konnar Furman 4 0-0 8, Joey Johnson 15 2-3 32, Luke Kaiser 4 0-0 8. Totals 30 3-5 62.

Little Wound 5 22 32 45

Aberdeen Christian 17 35 47 62

3-point field goals – Kills Small (3), Jumping Eagle, Ghost; Bosma. Total fouls – Little Wound 9; Aberdeen Christian 8.