Aberdeen Roncalli scaled the mountain twice Friday night, but Redfield made sure the Cavaliers never quite reached the top.

The Pheasants built two separate double-digit leads, lost them, but made enough plays down the stretch to pull out a 54-52 Northeast Conference boys’ basketball victory at Roncalli Gym.

“This was a great team win,” said Redfield coach Lance Howe. “I can’t pinpoint one kid out there.”

The visitors never trailed in the game, but found out that no lead was safe, either.

Redfield owned a 22-10 lead midway through the second quarter before the Cavaliers scored the final 10 points of the half.

The Pheasants rebuilt that double-digit advantage and led 53-42 with 2:57 left before Roncalli stormed back with another 10-0 run that included seven points from Maddox Miller and a three-pointer from Darwin Gambler with 11.8 seconds left. However, Jerron Haider made one of two free throws and Roncalli missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer.

“It would have been easy for us, two times we were down double digits, to fold back,” said Roncalli coach Dan Gallagher, “but credit to our team, they battled, they fought.”

Howe was also pleased with the way his team responded to adversity in the contest.

“I give Roncalli a lot of credit, they didn’t quit. They came right back at us,” Howe said, “but I give our kids a lot of credit. I just told them you didn’t quit out there. We had runs at us and you guys fought through it.”

The Pheasants displayed a potent perimeter game that included eight three-point field goals.

Senior Jerron Haider nailed four treys on his way to 22 points. However, he was quick to credit his teammates

“It was a big team win tonight,” Haider said, “with Mitchell (Mack) in the middle guarding and Justin Ratigan was big on the rebounds, and everyone just hitting shots just really helped out.”

Haider was also a factor on defense. He drew the assignment of guarding Roncalli sharp-shooter Maddox Miller on the game’s final possession.

“I just knew I had to get up on him,” Haider said, “because he’s a good shooter.”

Miller led all scorers with 25 points and made four three-pointers on the night. However, he had to work for his totals.

“They shot really well and played incredible defense, too. Maddox Miller is a heckuva player and they gave him fits all night,” Gallagher said. “He was still able to get his points and his buckets, but man the way they defended us throughout the game, it was a hard-fought game all the way around and unfortunately one basket didn’t go our way, or two baskets or one turnover, whatever it is. That’s the way it goes.”

Mack added 11 points and 10 rebounds to the Redfield total, while Zack Akin added nine points, Nolan Gall seven points, and Justin Ratigan contributed seven rebounds.

“Justin Ratigan may not score a lot, but he led us in rebounding last year as a sophomore,” Howe said. “That guy just knows where the ball is coming off the rim and goes after it.”

While the Pheasants were able to record a road conference win, there is still work to be done, according to Haider.

“We’ve got a lot to work on in practice. There’s a lot to do,” Haider said. “We looked pretty good today, but there’s always improvement.”

Gambler finished with 17 points off the bench for the Cavaliers, who are scheduled to play at Mobridge-Pollock on Tuesday night.

“We did struggle putting the ball in the basket, one of our Achilles heels throughout,” Gallagher said of his team’s first contest. “Darwin came off the bench and gave us some great minutes. He shot the ball extremely well.”

REDFIELD (1-0): Nolan Gall 3 1-2 7, Jerron Haider 8 2-5 22, Zach Akin 3 0-0 9, Mitchell Mack 5 1-2 11, Justin Ratigan 0 0-1 0, Kevin Weller 2 0-0 5. Totals 21-50 4-10 54.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (0-1): Maddox Miller 10 1-1 25, Caden Shelton 1 1-2 3, Aiden Fisher 0 1-2 1, Maddox May 2 1-2 5, Brody Weinmeister 0 2-1 1, Darwin Gambler 5 2-2 17. Totals 19-49 7-11 52.

Redfield 15 22 42 54

Aberdeen Roncalli 7 20 38 52

3-point field goals – Haider 4, Akin 3, Weller; Miller 4, Gambler 3. Fouled out – Aberdeen Roncalli, Jayden Munroe. Total fouls – Redfield 14; Aberdeen Roncalli 15. Rebounds – Redfield 32 (Mack 10); Aberdeen Roncalli 30 (Munroe 7). Turnovers – Redfield 14; Aberdeen Roncalli 18.