MITCHELL — Playing its fourth-straight game against an opponent ranked in this week’s Class AA top-five and coming off back-to-back losses, the Mitchell High School boys basketball team was in search of a big win.
And it got one, as the No. 4 Kernels withstood a hot-shooting night from No. 5 Aberdeen Central to come out with a 69-62 victory in an Eastern South Dakota Conference contest Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
“We were pretty good offensively tonight and kind of got back to what we’re supposed to be — a team that has five guys that can score, and everyone was a threat out there tonight,” said Mitchell coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt. “We had to battle through some of their shot-making where it felt like they just couldn’t miss, and to them, it probably felt like we couldn’t miss either.”
1/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) puts up a basket as he is fouled by Aberdeen Central's Sam Rohlfs during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
2/44: Mitchell's Charlie McCardle (35) shoots over an Aberdeen Central defender during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
3/44: Mitchell Head Coach Ryker Kreutzfedlt applauds a basket during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
4/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) dribbles the basket through the Aberdeen Central defense during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
5/44: Mitchell's Aiden Myers (3) is fouled by Aberdeen Central's AJ Hase during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
6/44: Mitchell's Steele Morgan (44) shoots as Aberdeen Central's AJ Hase defends and Mitchell's Charlie McCardle (35) looks on during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
7/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) goes to the basket between a pair of Aberdeen Central defenders including Aberdeen Central's Carter Dingman (2) during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
8/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) dribbles past Aberdeen Central's Carter Dingman during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
9/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) dribbles to the basket as Aberdeen Central's Carter Dingman defends during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
10/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) shoots over a pair of Aberdeen Central defenders during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
11/44: Mitchell's Charlie McCardle (35) shoots a basket between a pair of Aberdeen Central defenders during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
12/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) shoots a basket over Aberdeen Central's Brady Rohrbach during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
13/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) wins the opening tipoff during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
14/44: Mitchell cheerleaders perform during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
15/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) dribbles to the basket as Aberdeen Central's Karson Carda defends during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
16/44: Mitchell cheerleaders perform during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
17/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) dribbles to the basket past an Aberdeen Central defender during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
18/44: Mitchell Head Coach Ryker Kreutzfedlt celebrates a basket during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
19/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) goes in for a basket past an Aberdeen Central defender during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
20/44: Mitchell's Steele Morgan (44) puts up a basket in front of Aberdeen Central's Brady Rohrbach during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
21/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) draws the foul by Aberdeen Central's Brady Rohrbach during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
22/44: Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) is fouled by Aberdeen Central's Alec Voegele (3) as Aberdeen Central's Jackson Dorsett also defends during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
23/44: Mitchell cheerleaders perform during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
24/44: Mitchell students cheer during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
25/44: Mitchell's Steele Morgan (44) shoots over Aberdeen Central's Alec Voegele during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
26/44: Kernel students during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
27/44: The Kernel practice players of the week watch the action during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
28/44: Mitchell cheerleaders perform during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
29/44: Mitchell cheerleaders perform during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
30/44: Kernel students cheer during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
31/44: Kernel students during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
32/44: Mitchell cheerleaders perform during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
33/44: Mitchell Head Coach Ryker Kreutzfedlt calls his players to the bench during a timeout during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
34/44: Mitchell's Aiden Myers (3) chases down a loose ball during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
35/44: Kernel students cheer during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
36/44: The practice players of the week are introduced ahead of lineups during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
37/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) puts down a dunk during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at the Corn Palace.
38/44: Mitchell's Steele Morgan (44) goes up for a basket through the Aberdeen Central defense during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
39/44: The Kernel bench celebrates a basket during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
40/44: Mitchell students cheer during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
41/44: The Kernels bench reacts to a basket during a game against Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
42/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) is fouled by Aberdeen Central's Brady Rohrbach going to the basket during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
43/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) goes to the basket past Aberdeen Central's Sam Rohlfs during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
44/44: Mitchell's Caden Hinker (20) goes up for a basket around the Aberdeen Central defense during a game on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace.
Mitchell shot 24 of 51 (47.1%) from the field and 10 of 15 from 3-point range, with Caden Hinker and Aiden Myers combining to go 9 of 11 from behind the 3-point line. On the other side, Aberdeen Central shot 26 of 49 (53.1%) from the field and 10 of 22 on triples.
Five ties and seven lead changes in the opening half marked a frenetic first half in which neither team struggled to find offense. The teams combined to shoot 27 of 50 (54%) from the field and make 11 3-point field goals, including seven in the first eight minutes.
Early in the second half, the Kernels looked poised to pull away after burying three triples in the opening moments of the second half to help build a 45-37 advantage. But Aberdeen Central battled back, climbing to within 54-52 entering the fourth quarter due in large part to the jump-shooting of guard Sam Rohlfs. For the quarter, Hinker put up 13 points for the Kernels, while Rohlfs dropped in seven.
“We kind of felt like we were on the edge of going on a run, but then they would come down and hit a 3 and hit a midrange, and then it’s a five-point game still,” Kreutzfeldt said. “We couldn’t break it open like we wanted to, but you’re just not going to do that against good teams.”
However, the Kernels answered immediately, pushing their lead back to 59-52 to start the final frame.
The Golden Eagles stayed within striking distance, but went cold at the wrong time, scoring just 10 points in the fourth quarter as Mitchell converted several free throws to seal the win.
Hinker's 30 points and nine rebounds led the way for Mitchell, as the senior notched his fourth 30-plus-point effort in the past seven games. Steele Morgan and Charlie McCardle added 11 and 10 points, respectively, to go with 11 rebounds between them. Dylan Soulek and Aiden Myers each chipped in nine points for the Kernels, with Soulek also dishing out four assists.
Aberdeen Central (9-6, 4-3 ESD) was led by 20 points, five rebounds and three assists from Rohlfs and 17 points from A.J. Hase. Alec Voegele contributed nine points and five rebounds for the Golden Eagles.
Mitchell (11-4, 6-1 ESD) doesn’t take the court again until Feb. 15, when it travels to take on Sioux Falls Washington.
