BROOKINGS – Aberdeen Central cashed in at the charity stripe Friday night.

The Golden Eagles made 20 of 25 free throws to turn back Brookings 59-49 for an Eastern South Dakota Conference boys’ basketball win.

The free-throw accuracy included an 11-of-12 performance in the final 3:45 of the contest to ice the win after the Bobcats had cut a double-digit deficit down to five points.

“It was four different guys and we needed every one,” said Central coach Brent Norberg.

Spencer Barr and Carter Dingman each made four foul shots, Parker Lemer added two and Karson Carda also made a free throw.

The Golden Eagles got off to a solid start with a 22-point first quarter which allowed them to build a 10-point advantage. However, the offense dried up in the second period as Central managed just two points, but still led by four at the break.

“We had a great start and stalled in the second,” Norberg said. “We went 3 of 17 from three and still were able to grind out a win. Luckily, we held them to eight in the second.”

Central was able to rebuild its double-digit lead in the second half, despite not being able to connect from the perimeter.

“We didn’t make a three in the second half and found a way to win,” Norberg said. “The kids really defended well all game.”

Barr finished with a game-high 23 points to pace the victory. Carda added 11 to the balanced Central attack. Dingman and Lemer each contributed eight.

Austin Clark’s 17 points topped Brookings.

The Golden Eagles, 4-10 on the season, will not have much time to recover, facing O’Gorman this afternoon in Sioux Falls.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (4-10): Carter Dingman 2 4-4 8, Karson Carda 4 3-4 11, Jett Carlson 1 1-3 3, Parker Lemer 2 4-4 8, Spencer Barr 7 6-6 23, Cooper Eisenbeisz 1 2-2 4, Grant Fritz 1 0-0 2. Totals 18-47 20-23 59.

BROOKINGS (2-16): Austin Clark 5 4-5 17, Ryan Bauman 1 0-0 3, Sam Conrad 1 1-2 3, Nathan Lease 4 3-4 11, Jackson Hoffman 0 3-3 3, Ben Moret 1 1-2 4, Owen Burns 3 0-0 6, Sam Johnson 1 0-0 2. Totals 16-46 12-16 49.

Aberdeen Central 22 24 42 59

Brookings 12 20 31 49

3-point field goals – Barr 3; Clark 3, Bauman, Moret. Fouled out – Conrad. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 15; Brookings 19. Rebounds – Aberdeen Central 31 (Carlson 11); Brookings 30 (Burns 6). Turnovers – Aberdeen Central 10; Brookings 17. Assists – Aberdeen Central 6 (Dingman 2, Lemer 2); Brookings 8 (Conrad 5). Blocked shots – Aberdeen Central 3; Brookings 1. Steals – Aberdeen Central 9 (Barr 4, Carlson 3); Brookings 5 (Clark 4).