Aberdeen Central saved its best for last on Friday afternoon at the Holgate Tennis Courts.

Playing in their only home duals of the season, the Golden Eagles got on the board in the final match on the court. Central fell to O’Gorman 9-0 and lost to Brandon Valley 8-1, but the one was pretty exciting.

“It’s a good way to end it, get the first win of the day. Obvioulsy two very good teams,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz. “We knew there’d be some tough matches. We didn’t play our best. It’s been a long week. We just didn’t have our best stuff today, and lot of that has to do with the opposition, too.”

Dawson Pederson provided Central its lone win of the day, pulling out a tiebreaker victory at flight three singles against an opponent he just lost to at the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament. The eighth-grader said his mindset played a key role in the victory.

“The matches before I lost badly, because I was getting real mad,” Pederson said. “My mind wasn’t in it at all, but I was able to keep a good mind this match.”

In a back-and-forth battle, Pederson found a way to handle the low slice approach shots of Lucas Fogarty to help secure the win.

“It’s tough, because it’s real short and he’s going to the net right away,” Pederson said. “It’s either I lob it, which is tough from right there, but mostly I would just try to go right down the alley and keep it low.”

Pederson trailed 8-7 late in the set, but broke serve to level the match, eventually winning the tiebreaker 7-4.

Kurtz was impressed by Pederson’s mental toughness, especially following a loss earlier in the day.

“Awsome win for him, because he was really, really down in the dumps after his OG match,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz said that Pederson maintained his composure and came up with big shots when he needed them most.

“To bounce back and beat a kid who’s really good, just beat him in a tiebreak at ESD, that was a big win,” Kurtz said. “But mainly how he handled himself mentally that match. He made some great plays, hit some great shots, passing shots, volleys, but mentally he never got too low and when he does that, he can be really good.”

Pederson used a large gallery to his advantage in Central’s only home action of the season.

“I like the big crowd,” Pederson said. “It hypes me up a little.”

Central’s Aric Tennant continues to play solid tennis after suffering a foot injury early in the season. He said it was difficult being forced to watch instead of play.

“It wasn’t fun, because a lot of the times I had to sit out on doubles so I could rest my foot,” Tennant said, “and I’m not really the kind of person who likes to sit around too much.”

However, he also used the break to his advantage in multiple ways. For starters, he took mental notes as he watched his teammates compete.

“I’ve really learned how to try to do better forehands with more topspin and pace right now,” Tennant said.

Not only that, but the break also helped the freshman rest his body and get ready for the stretch run of the season.

“Honestly, before I got injured I was playing worse than I’m playing now,” Tennant said. “I think the rest really helped me recover and get better.”

He and the rest of the Golden Eagles will now prepare for the Class AA State Tournament Thursday and Friday in Rapid City. Tennant has his goals in mind.

“Obviously, I’m trying to place, but I think it would be fun just to play as many matches as I can, the best that I can,” Tennant said, “rather than just going for first and being mad if I don’t get it.”

O’Gorman 9, Aberdeen Central 0

Singles

Will Koziara, OG, def. Josia Grandpre, 6-0, 6-0.

Ben Pekas, OG, def. Mason Ligon, 6-1, 7-5.

Yakob Abebe, OG, def. Dawson Pederson, 6-3, 6-2.

Finn Canfield, OG, def. Aric Tennant, 6-4, 6-4.

Noah Dobbs, OG, def. Mika Dannen, 6-3, 4-6, (10-7).

August Jackson, OG, def. Carson Goethals, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

Koziera-Canfield, OG, def. Ligon-Dannen, 6-1, 6-4.

Pekas-Abebe, OG, def. Tennant-Grandpre, 6-0, 6-0.

Dobbs-Jackson, OG, def. Pederson-Brock Anderson, 6-1, 6-1.

Brandon Valley 8, Aberdeen Central 1

Singles

Eli Woidyla, BV, def. AJ Prehn, 10-1.

Gibsen Eszlinger, BV, def. Mason Ligon, 10-3.

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Lucas Fogarty, 10-9 (7-4).

Will Jensen, BV, def. Aric Tennant, 10-1.

Gavin Stone, BV, Mike Dannen, 10-1.

Ryley McKeown, BV, def. Carson Goethals, 10-3.

Doubles

Woidyla-Eszlinger, BV, def. Prehn-Ligon, 10-2.

Fogarty-Stone, BV, def. Tennant-Dannen, 10-3.

Jense-McKeown, BV, def. Pederson-Brock Anderson, 10-2.