A change in defensive strategy produced a major change on the scoreboard for Leola-Frederick Thursday night at the Aberdeen Civic Arena.

The Titans held Aberdeen Christian to just six second-half points, none in the fourth quarter, to pull away for a 38-19 Lake Region Conference girls’ basketball victory.

Part of the difference was doing a better job of rebounding.

“We talked about that at half,” said Leola-Frederick coach Jeff Kosters. “I was frustrated with the second-chance opportunities we were giving them in the first half.”

Perhaps even bigger was the Titans’ change in philosophy on defense.

“In the first half we didn’t front their post,” said Leola-Frederick’s Jillian Ellwein, “in the second half we did.”

Christian’s Sophia Eichler scored seven first-quarter points as she worked in the lane for high-percentage shots. The sophomore was more aggressive than she was in the first game this past Tuesday.

“I think the other night our game against Warner, I was just kind of getting back into it,” Eichler said. “I broke my leg last year, so it’s kind of a little different coming back.”

However, Eichler got in foul trouble and was held scoreless the rest of the contest.

“I think their defense might have been a little tougher,” Eichler said. “I think our offense wasn’t looking down as much to the post and was trying to use our girls out at the 3-point line.”

A key play occurred to start the final quarter. Leading 27-19, the Titans devised a play to get another foul on Eichler which resulted in a three-point play.

“To start the fourth quarter we knew she had three fouls,” Kosters said. “We wanted to go inside immediately and see if we could get one on her, and we got an and-one nine seconds in and then she came off.”

Fouls hampered the Knights as both Eicher and Erika Moulsoff ran into foul trouble.

“The main thing that hurt was us our two people who were doing the main scoring got into foul trouble,” said Christian coach Andre Cobbs. “So if you get into foul trouble, then you got to put in somebody that doesn’t have the skill set they have. That’s actually what killed us.”

That and the shooting of Ellwein, who finished with a game-high 22 points.

“That’s what we talked about and that’s what we’ve got to work on,” Cobbs said of his players guarding the other team’s top offensive weapon. “That’s what we literally talked about, know where she is at all times, and we just got lost on her. I think again a lot of them don’t have the instinct yet.”

Interestingly enough, Ellwein said she lacks confidence when shooting, but she appeared comfortable on this occasion.

“I kind of feel the pressure a lot because I’m a freshman,” Ellwein said, “so every time I shoot the ball I don’t think it’s going to go in, but when it does, my confidence goes back.”

Arabella Clark added nine points to the Leola-Frederick total.

However, it was the defense that helped propel the Titans to their first win of the young season.

“I felt our gap defense was pretty good,” Ellwein said, “and we were in the passing lanes pretty well tonight.”

While Kosters said there are still plenty of things to work on, he was pleased with the way his team finished off the contest.

“There was some good and some bad, but I was really happy in the second half defensively,” Kosters said, “and not that there’s not a lot of areas that you can get better in, but baby steps. It’s early.”

Christian will play Redfield at 1 p.m. Saturday at Aberdeen Roncalli, while Leola-Frederick will face Waubay-Summit on Saturday.

Eichler, who led the Knights in scoring, plans to continue to be aggressive in the lane going forward.

“That’s what I’m thinking I’m going to try to do,” Eichler said, “keep being aggressive in the lane, work on post moves, keep putting them up.”

LEOLA-FREDERICK (1-1): Kaitlyn Mueller 2 0-0 4, Jillian Ellwein 9 1-4 22, Parker Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Arabella Clark 2 5-8 9, Eden Podoll 0 1-2 1. Totals 14 7-14 38.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (0-1): Jolie Fogarty 1 0-2 2, Sophia Eichler 3 1-2 7, Shakinah Holsing 1 0-0 2, Erika Moulsoff 3 0-0 6, Eri Cobbs 1 0-0 2. Totals 9 1-4 19.

Leola-Frederick 9 18 27 38

Aberdeen Christian 7 13 19 19

3-point field goals – Ellwein 3. Total fouls – Leola-Frederick 6; Aberdeen Christian 11. Rebounds – Leola-Frederick 44 (Ellwein 10, Clark 8, Mueller 8); Aberdeen Christian 31 (Fogarty 10, Eichler 9). Turnovers – Leola-Frederick 8; Aberdeen Christian 14.