WARNER – Aberdeen Roncalli clogged life on the inside, lit it up from the outside, and claimed a key girls’ basketball win Saturday night.
The Cavaliers topped Warner 51-35 in a non-conference marquee matchup Saturday night, handing the Monarchs just their second setback of the season.
“We really defended well. We kept people out of the paint,” said Roncalli coach Derek Larson. “That was kind of our big deal going into this.”
Roncalli broke open a close game by allowing just two points in the second quarter. Warner had a difficult time finding open space to operate for high-percentage shots.
“They scouted us about perfectly,” said Warner coach Tina Winter. “Clearly we’ve kind of lived in the lane this year. The majority of our points have come in the paint.”
While the lack of offense was a big factor for the Monarchs, Roncalli’s proficiency from three-point range was just as big of an issue.
The Cavaliers nailed four 3-pointers in the third quarter alone and finished with 11 in the contest as Roncalli was able to open a 27-point cushion at one stage of the second half.
“They’re a very good team and it’s kind of soul crushing when they get on hot streaks with their shooting,” Winter said, “because it just feels like nothing is going to go right.”
Roncalli received treys from four different players, led by Camryn Bain with four.
“I felt good in warmups,” Bain said. “I went out and shot my first three and it went in, and then I just felt good and had my confidence up.”
In fact, Bain even took a 3-pointer or two that maybe she wouldn’t have on other nights.
“When Cam shot a couple of them in the third quarter, she had one that was kind of a heat-check one,” Larson said, “where we were good with letting her fly, because again she hit a couple of big ones in a row.”
Bain said once the first attempt goes in, it makes it easier to shoot more following that.
“Then you’re not too scared to shoot,” Bain said, “because you made your first one, you’re in it.”
Warner’s Kyra Marcuson caught fire in the fourth quarter, making four straight three-pointers to eventually close the gap to the final margin of difference.
However, with limited looks inside, the Monarchs weren’t able to keep pace with the Cavaliers throughout the night.
“They’re a fast team, like their defense is always on,” said Warner junior Kyleigh Schopp, who contributed eight points. “I think our trouble was we were too crowded on the inside. We couldn’t get a good pass without them getting a defensive tip on it.”
Bain finished with 14 points to lead Roncalli, while Ava Hanson and Claire Crawford each added 11 as Roncalli avenged a setback to the Monarchs from last season.
“We really did not want what happened last year to happen this year,” Bain said. “We really all just stepped up and wanted the win.”
The Cavaliers, 15-3 on the season, received some major seed points as a result of the victory over Warner.
“This is big for us for points,” Larson said, “and just kind of a motivator for the rest of the year.”
Roncalli hosts Florence-Henry in another non-conference contest on Tuesday at Roncalli Gym.
“We have to be ready for them. They have a really senior-led veteran team (with players) that have been starting for a long time,” Larson said, “so we’re not going to take them lightly.”
Warner now heads into Region 1B postseason action on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Schopp said having a tough test in the final regular-season game will help the Monarchs.
“I think this game, like they’re such a great A team,” Schopp said, “I think it’s just going to give us fuel going into the postseason and will get us where we want to go, which is the state tournament.”
ABERDEEN RONCALLI (15-3): McKenna O’Keefe 2 0-1 4, Camryn Bain 5 0-0 14, Maddie Huber 2 1-2 7, Claire Crawford 4 0-0 11, Ava Hanson 2 6-6 11, Morgan Helms 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 8-11 51.
WARNER (18-2): Kyra Marcuson 4 0-2 12, Ava Nilsson 3 0-0 6, Kyleigh Schopp 4 0-1 8, Sophia Hoeft 2 1-2 5, Lauren Marcuson 0 2-2 2, Stacia Carda 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 3-7 35.
Aberdeen Roncalli 15 26 42 51
Warner 10 12 20 35
3-point field goals – Bain (4), Huber (2), Crawford (3), Hanson, Helms; K. Marcuson (4). Total fouls – Aberdeen Roncalli 13; Warner 9. Rebounds – Aberdeen Roncalli 28 (Hanson 6, Bain 5); Warner 22 (Nilsson 4, Schopp 4, K. Marcuson 4). Turnovers – Aberdeen Roncalli 14; Warner 22.
