The Spearfish Spartans make their first long road trip of the season tonight as they head to Aberdeen to face the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles in a Class AA matchup at Aberdeen Central High School. Spearfish enters the game 1–0 after a dominant season‑opening win, while Aberdeen Central looks to steady itself after an 0–2 start.
Spearfish has won just three times against Aberdeen Central since 2006 and has never earned back‑to‑back victories in the series. Last year’s 50–42 win in Spearfish snapped a five‑game losing streak to the Eagles, but the Spartans have not won in Aberdeen since January 29, 2011. Tonight offers a chance to end that drought and secure their first consecutive wins in the matchup in nearly two decades.
The Spartans opened their season last week with a 67–34 victory over Belle Fourche, shaking off early rust and showcasing their athleticism and depth. Senior guard Kamren Davis led the way with 18 points, including four three‑pointers and a highlight‑reel dunk. Senior Bennett Kortan added 12 points in a steady performance, continuing his transition into a shooting‑guard role alongside junior point guard Mason Southern, who finished with eight assists.
Southern’s growth has been one of the early storylines for Spearfish. His ability to create shots and thread passes into tight windows will be tested tonight against Aberdeen’s size. Junior forward Kade Vavruska, who can score inside and out, will also play a key role after a quiet opener. His versatility makes him one of the Spartans’ most important pieces, especially against a Golden Eagles frontcourt featuring multiple players over 6-foot-5.
Inside, seniors Cooper Gibbs and Ashar Hodgs will face their toughest matchup yet. Both controlled the paint against Belle Fourche, but Aberdeen Central’s size presents a different challenge. Off the bench, Tucker Olson, Thomas Hughes, and Keegan Ozuna all contributed meaningful minutes in the opener. Olson’s defensive energy, Hughes’ athleticism, and Ozuna’s shooting give Spearfish valuable depth. Junior Karden Seyer remains questionable with an ankle injury but would be the first guard off the bench if available.
One area Spearfish hopes to clean up is finishing at the rim. The Spartans missed double‑digit layups in their opener—mistakes that could prove costly on the road.
This is Spearfish’s first East River trip of the season, an area where they struggled last year, going 1–3. Head coach Ben Schultz has emphasized treating long road games as “business trips,” knowing the margin for error shrinks away from home.
Aberdeen Central, meanwhile, is searching for its first win under new head coach Colton McClemans. The Golden Eagles opened the season with losses to Rapid City Central (66–38) and Rapid City Stevens (55–35), struggling to find offensive rhythm in both games. They shot just 7-of-27 in the first half against Central and were out‑rebounded and turnover‑prone against Stevens.
Junior guard Luke Swansen has been the lone consistent scorer, totaling 24 points across the first two games and shooting 33 percent from three. Forward Turner Bergan is averaging 6.5 points per game and provides size and athleticism at the four spot. Aberdeen’s frontcourt—featuring Brenner Waldrop (6’6″) and Jack Bertch (6’5″)—has yet to fully assert itself, but remains a potential advantage if the Eagles can establish inside touches.
McClemans is working to build an identity rooted in toughness and defense. “Defense travels, and you will always have it at home,” he said this week. Offensively, Aberdeen Central runs a five‑out system designed to create driving lanes and shots off ball screens, but early‑season cold spells have limited their effectiveness.
Tonight marks Aberdeen’s home opener, and the Eagles hope familiar surroundings help spark their offense. To stay competitive, they will need to match Spearfish’s athleticism, limit turnovers, and control the paint—areas that have been weaknesses through two games.
For Spearfish, the keys will be patience on offense, physicality inside, and converting high‑percentage shots. If the Spartans can withstand Aberdeen’s size and avoid a slow start on the road, they have a chance to make a little history in Aberdeen.
Tipoff is slated for 7:00 pm CT tonight with Claysen Davis on the call from Aberdeen, live on KDSJ-TV on YouTube, and Black Hills Gold Hits: KDSJ Facebook Live.
