While a battle was raging inside, it was Aberdeen Christian’s outside attack that proved to be the difference maker Monday night at the Aberdeen Civic Arena.

The Knights nailed a pair of key 3-pointers in the final quarter to help fend off Mobridge-Pollock 55-47 in non-conference boys’ basketball action.

The game featured a memorable matchup between senior Shane Henderson of Mobridge-Pollock and sophomore Brooks Jett of Christian. The duo both had big nights against each other with Henderson finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks, and Jett totaling 21 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.

Oh, and there was one other notable stat.

“They both banked in a three so we can take that out of the equation,” said Christian coach Matt Rohrbach with a smile. “That’s really what matters is the 3-point battle and they both tried to go glass. And they both succeeded going glass on back-to-back possessions. They were both tremendous.”

While the two standouts negated each other, it was Christian’s perimeter shooting which gave the Knights a big lift.

“Those two were going back and forth and doing everything they could to try win the game,” said Mobridge-Pollock coach Thomas Knudsen. “It really came down to their shooting from the 3-point line. It got them the win.”

Christian only had four 3-pointers on the evening, but they came at big times. Jett Johnson nailed a three late in the third quarter when the visitors had clawed to within 33-32. Grady Jett hit a three to start the fourth quarter, and then after the Tigers had cut a 45-34 deficit down to 45-41, Jett hit another 3-pointer with 3:40 left to help keep the Knights in front.

“Those threes were timely,” Knudsen said. “When we’d get close, they’d hit that three.”

Brooks Jett led Christian in scoring, but he was quick to credit his teammates.

“They all just really picked it up. Jett’s three was obviously really huge. Grady’s, you could tell it was going in from his release. Luke (Kaiser) had some really big shots down the stretch. Just want to give it to them. They played great.”

The Tigers made two more threes than Christian, but was unable to get them when it really mattered.

“That’s just shots not falling. We had a lot of in-and-out threes that could have changed the game,” Henderson said. “They hit a couple of threes. That definitely switched the momentum for us. We’ve just got to go off of that and work to get better shots like that.”

It was obvious that Brooks Jett and Henderson have a mutual respect for each other following their battle inside.

“He’s a great player. He’s really strong. A lot stronger than I am,” Jett said of the South Dakota State football recruit. “Matt said don’t be scared to go at him. During the first half I was taking my wrong opportunities to go at him, but my teammates got me open looks.”

Henderson also enjoyed the competitive matchup.

“It’s awesome being able to go out and compete against a good team and good player like that every night,” Henderson said. “You’ve just got to rise to the occasion, especially against a good team like Aberdeen Christian.”

Kaiser added 14 points to the Christian total, while Jackson Eismann finished with 14 points for Mobridge-Pollock.

Rohrbach said a variety of players key roles in the victory.

“I think the interior passing was incredible and it all starts with Ellis Russell I feel like,” Rohrbach said. “He’s kind of that engine, and then Luke had some tremendous passes, and Dylan (Hofer) always finds his way down there and making some opportune steals.”

Put it all together and it helped the Knights to find a way to beat a solid Class A opponent with a potent big man in Henderson.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player. He was kind of one-man wrecking crew, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, was tipping, keeping basketballs alive,” Rohrbach said. “I think that’s what makes them so difficult to beat, is because they’ve got four really good guards, and then they have him inside.”

The Knights have definitely held their own against Mobridge-Pollock since the series started a few years ago.

“Props to them. They always have a decent showing against us,” Henderson said. “They always have a couple of guys shooting good. We’ve just got to prepare for that better.”

The Tigers, 10-4, have a monster schedule on the near horizon, with two games remaining this week and then four more next week because of rescheduled game.

“Competitive schedule coming up,” Knudsen said. “Every team has like a 10-3 record or similar.”

Christian, 11-4, has another group of Tigers coming into the Civic Arena tonight when its hosts Ipswich in a girls-boys doubleheader.

“We have another big one (Tuesday),” Rohrbach said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re ready to go.”

MOBRIDGE-POLLOCK (10-4): Shooter Frederick 3 1-2 9, Easton Eisemann 1 0-0 2, Kale Knudson 2 1-2 6, Jackson Eisemann 5 2-2 14, Shane Henderson 4 7-8 16. Totals 15-45 11-14 47.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (11-4): Jett Johnson 2 1-2 7, Dylan Hofer 1 0-0 2, Ellis Russell 1 2-2 4, Luke Kaiser 4-8 14, Brooks Jett 7 4-5 21, Grady Jett 3 0-2 7. Totals 19-40 11-19 55.

Mobridge-Pollock 9 19 32 47

Aberdeen Christian 15 23 38 55

3-point field goals – Frederick 2, Knudson, J. Eisemann 2, Henderson; Johnson 2, B. Jett, G. Jett.    Total fouls – Mobridge-Pollock 18; Aberdeen Christian 14. Rebounds – Mobridge-Pollock 25 (Henderson 13); Aberdeen Christian 27 (B. Jett 13). Turnovers – Mobridge-Pollock 13; Aberdeen Christian 14. Blocked shots – Mobridge-Pollock (Henderson 2, Frederick); Aberdeen Christian (B. Jett 3).