Mobridge-Pollock had the Aberdeen Roncalli Cavaliers exactly where they wanted them – running. The Tigers pressured Roncalli into an up-tempo contest with their full-court defense, but the Cavaliers adjusted to claim a 53-37 non-conference girls’ basketball victory Tuesday night at Roncalli Gym.

“I thought, especially in the first half, we fell into exactly how they wanted us to play,” said Roncalli coach Derek Larson. “We played way too fast. We shot shots too early in the shot clock all because they sped us up. I thought when we slowed things down and didn’t try to push the tempo in transition, we looked a lot better.”

Despite those early miscues, Roncalli countered with some defense of its own, and didn’t allow Mobrdige-Pollock to score until just over a minute and a half left in the first quarter.

The Tigers did close to within four with 1:11 to play in the half, due in large part to its ability to capitilize on some Roncalli turnovers.

“Six turnovers is 12 points, which is half their points in the first half,” said Cavalier junior Ava Hanson.

However, a buzzer-beating layup from Hanson to end the half plus a couple long-range buckets from Maddie Huber early in the third quarter gave the Cavaliers the cushion they needed to stay out of reach the rest of the way.

“First two games out, Maddie Huber has shot the ball well,” Larson said. “We tried to run some sets for her and they went to more of a face-guard of her, especially in the second half.”

Hanson finished with 15 points and Huber with 14, both with a pair of 3-pointers in the game. Claire Crawford tossed in another couple of threes for eight points.

That perimeter shooting will be important for the Cavaliers, Hanson said. 

“We are so close right now,” she said. “We love playing with each other and you know when someone is getting the ball, they’re hitting a three. It’s all mind over matter and knowing when you get them the ball, they’re putting it in and you’ve got the next ball.”

Hanson’s points came despite her missing a large portion of the third quarter with foul trouble.

“Charley (Henderson) was my defender and she was on me good,” Hanson said. “That’s what I expect this year. It’s not going to be easy. And it shouldn’t be easy. You’ve got to work for what you want. I just had to figure out how to get open and how to get my teammates open.”

Henderson finished with nine points for Mobridge-Pollock before fouling out of the contest. Tegan Konold also had nine points for the Tigers.

Mobridge-Pollock will return home for the Mobridge Rotary Classic on Saturday. Roncalli will host Northwestern Saturday afternoon as part of the Cavalier Classic.

MOBRIDGE-POLLOCK (1-1): Reagan Weisbeck 1 0-0 2, Tegan Konold 2 1-2 9, Charley Henderson 3 3-4 9, Faith Heil 2 3-4 7, Katy Kemnitz 3 0-0 6, Heidi Olson 2 0-1 4. Totals 14 7-11 37.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (2-0): McKenna O’Keefe 2 2-4 6, Camryn Bain 2 0-0 5, Maddie Huber 2 8-8 14, Claire Crawford 3 0-0 8, Ava Hanson 4 5-8 15, Morgan Helms 1 2-2 5. Totals 14 17-22 53.

Mobridge-Pollock 4 16 23 37

Aberdeen Roncalli 11 23 33 53

3-point field goals – Konold (2); Bain, Huber (2), Crawford (2), Hanson (2), Helm. Fouled out – Henderson. Fouls – Mobridge-Pollock 18; Aberdeen Roncalli 19.