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Central boys rally for road victory over Watertown

Aberdeen Central's Jacob Weishaar shoots over Watertown's Gabe Norberg and Jackson McClemans (13) during their high school boys basketball game on Tuesday in the Watertown Civic Arena. Courtesy photo

WATERTOWN – Aberdeen Central scored four points in the final three seconds to cap a late flurry in a boys’ basketball win over Watertown Tuesday.

Brendan Phillips scored the final six points for the Golden Eagles in a 67-63 Eastern South Dakota Conference victory.

“Great game, it was tight all night,” said Central coach Brent Norberg. “Kids made one more play than they did.”

Phillips, who nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat Watertown last season, again played a key role in the victory over the Arrows.

The senior scored on an offensive rebound with about 30 seconds left to put Central ahead by two points. The Golden Eagles were whistled for a foul and Watertown made both free throws to tie the game, setting the stage for a wild finish.

Phillips got fouled on a jump shot and a technical foul was called on Watertown. The gave Phillips four free throws, he made two of them, and then he got fouled on the inbounds pass and made two more free throws with 2.6 seconds left to secure the victory.

“It was a gutty win for us,” Norberg said. “We were down a couple guys due to illness, so it was good to see some guys really step up and play more minutes than usual.”

Aberdeen Central’s Brendan Phillips drives against Watertown’s Kaden Decker during their high school boys basketball game on Tuesday in the Watertown Civic Arena. Courtesy photo

Phillips finished with 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals to lead Central, which trailed by five points heading into the fourth quarter. Colby Dauwen contributed 13 points. Jacob Weishaar and Jack Bertsch each finished with eight.

Watertown received 22 points from Carter Buisker and 17 from Jackson McClemans.

Central, 2-5 on the season, plays a road game against Tea Area on Saturday.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (2-5): Brendan Phillips 9 9-14 28, Luke Swanson 3 0-0 7, Colby Dauwen 6 0-0 13, Jacob Weishaar 4 0-0 8, Jack Bertsch 4 0-0 8, Michael Dutenhoffer 1 0-0 3. Totals 27-51 9-14 67.

WATERTOWN (2-5): Gabe Norberg 2 0-0 5, Kaden Decker 6 2-3 15, Jackson McClemans 7 1-2 17, Spencer Wientjes 0 1-2 1, Carter Buisker 8 3-3 22, Dane Stark 1 1-2 3. Totals 24-53 8-12 63.

Aberdeen Central 19 28 46 67

Watertown 14 32 51 63

3-point field goals – Phillips, Swanson, Dauwen, Dutenhoffer; Norberg, Decker, McClemans 2, Buisker 3. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 15; Watertown 16. Rebounds – Aberdeen Central 27 (Dauwen 7, Phillips 6); Watertown 31 (Olson 6). Turnovers – Aberdeen Central 10; Watertown 12. Assists – Aberdeen Central 26 (Swanson 7, Phillips 6); Watertown 24 (Norberg 6, Olson 6). Steals – Aberdeen Central 12 (Phillips 4); Watertown 9.

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