SIOUX FALLS – After a solid opening quarter of play, the Aberdeen Central girls’ basketball program couldn’t close out a victory, letting a 62-57 non-conference decision slip away against Sioux Falls Jefferson Friday night in the regular season finale.

The Golden Eagles found themselves leading 21-15 after the first quarter of play, but saw the Cavaliers chip slowly, but steadily away at that advantage with each successive stanza. 

Jefferson’s effort was aided, in part, by an abundance of trips to the free throw line, where the Cavaliers went 15-for-18 for the game. Brinley Altenburg led that effort with a 10-for-10 showing, including 8-for-8 down the stretch.

“We need to play our game and we need to stay focused for what’s to come next week,” said Central coach Paiton Burckhard. “When we play our game, we are at our best. I felt like we fell into Jefferson’s style of play, which is completely different than us as a team when we are at our best.”

Altenburg finished with 18 points for Jefferson, including four 3-pointers in addition to her exploits at the free throw line.

Central got 21 points from Lauryn Burckhard, 14 from Taryn Hermansen and 13 from Kenadi Withers.

The Golden Eagles, who had won four straight games prior to Friday’s loss, ended the regular season with an 11-8 mark, securing a home game for next week’s SoDak 16 round. Central could very well end up hosting Jefferson in that contest.

“I told the girls to be ready, because next week is important,” Burckhard said, “so buck up, stay mad about this loss and carry it to Friday.”

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (11-8): Ava Yeske 1 1-2 4, Kenadi Withers 6 1-2 13, Emma Dohrer 1 0-0 3, Lauryn Burckhard 9 0-0 21, Taryn Hermansen 6 2-2 14. Totals 23 4-6 57.

SIOUX FALLS JEFFERSON (11-9): Abby Horner 5 4-4 14, Taylor Silvernail 1 0-0 2, Peyten Krull 1 0-0 2, Ayleah Johnson 2 0-0 4, Brinley Altenburg 7 10-10 28, Macy Bryant 3 1-4 7, Bree Umbreit 2 0-0 5. Totals 21 15-18 62.

Aberdeen Central 21 32 44 57

Sioux Falls Jefferson 15 30 46 62

3-point field goals – Yeske, Dohrer, Burckhard 3; Altenburg 4. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 16; Sioux Falls Jefferson 11.