Execution at crunch time powered a come-from-behind victory for Webster Friday night.

The Bearcats scored on their final five possessions to collect a hard-fought 55-52 win over Aberdeen Roncalli in Northeast Conference boys’ basketball action at Roncalli Gym.

“They just made the bigger play when the bigger play needed to be made,” said Roncalli coach Dan Gallagher.

Trailing 49-47 with three minutes remaining, the Bearcats tied the score on a steal and layup by Seth Lesnar, who then added a free throw on Webster’s next possession.

Bryson Olson put Roncalli back in front with 1:42 remaining, before Gage Wik scored for Webster. After the Cavaliers tied the game on a foul shot, Lesnar drove straight to the hoop for a 54-52 lead with 40 seconds left. Roncalli turned the ball over and Jeron McCreary’s free throw with 12.3 seconds provided the final margin of difference. The Cavaliers were unable to tie the game in the final seconds.

“When it comes to the end we had to stick with our game plan,” said Webster coach Matthew Lenards. “We had to limit the quality of shots (Jesse Hernandez) was getting, and then obviously covering up (Olson) inside, just trying to force the ball out of their hands. Luckily down the stretch we were able to execute and put some balls in the hoop when we needed to. We just sort of gritted it out.”

That’s something the Bearcats have had a tough time doing this season, but they had a solid team effort against Roncalli as all five Webster starters scored in the final period.

“It was definitely effort by everyone,” said Webster senior Matt Mount, who finished with 18 points. “We haven’t had that the past few games. It was there tonight.”

So was Webster’s dribble penetration that caused major problems for the Cavaliers as the Bearcats continually got to the rim the entire game.

“That’s something we practice, specifically try to work downhill when shots aren’t necessarily falling from outside or from midrange,” Lenards said. “That’s something we continue to practice and luckily we were able find some mismatches and exploit them, and we were able to still score.”

The Cavaliers were unable to fully close off those driving lanes.

“It’s just hard,” Olson said. “We need to step in and take those charges. We gotta be more physical in the paint.”

Gallagher said the defense was designed to force the Bearcats to take chaotic shots. While that did happen on occasion, the Bearcats were also able to secure high-percentage attempts as well.

“We were too open-stanced to where we’re letting them get downhill on us,” Gallagher said. “We weren’t playing in the gaps very well and that gave them some easy drives to the basket, where either Lesnar was able to score himself or dump it down to someone else.”

Webster bolted out to a 13-1 lead in the opening quarter, before Roncalli scored nine unanswered points in the second period to get right back in the game. Olson had nine points in the second quarter alone on the way to leading the Cavaliers with 18 points.

“Shots weren’t falling,” Olson said. “We weren’t getting those calls in the first quarter, so I felt like get down in the lane and try and get those calls. Shots were starting to fall the second quarter.”

The Cavaliers took a five-point lead into the final quarter to set the stage for the tight finish.

“It all comes down to defense and our willingness to hustle on the court. It takes everyone on the bench and off the bench just to go out there and give it their all,” Olson said. “Today we couldn’t capitalize on their turnovers and they capitalized on our turnovers.”

It provided a much-needed win for the Bearcats, who had lost four of their first five games to start the season.

“It was a lot of fun winning,” Mount said. “We’ve been on a losing streak, so it’s nice to get one.”

Mount, who plans to play football at Northern State, is also a standout thrower in track and field.

When asked where basketball ranked for him, Olson responded with a smile, “Personally probably last, but it’s close.”

Lesnar also scored 18 points for the Webster, while Hernandez added 16 points to the Roncalli total.

The Bearcats plan to use the momentum from the victory to springboard into the second half of the season.

“It’s a huge win for us, considering Roncalli just as a basketball club, they’re always tough to beat, they always are good, and typically sound,” Lenards said, “so for us to be able to beat good teams and close out close games, for us, that should be a huge confidence booster going forward.”

Roncalli now heads into a cross-town encounter against Aberdeen Christian on Tuesday at the Civic Arena. It will pit players against each other who are teammates in football.

“They’re a good team. A lot of talent,” Gallagher said. “A lot of guys that our guys know really well. It’s always a fun one.”

WEBSTER (2-4): Seth Lesnar 8 2-4 18, Jack Shoemaker 2 0-0 4, Jaron McCreary 4 1-4 9, Matt Mount 7 2-4 18, Gage Wik 2 0-0 4, Sheldon Schmieg 0 2-3 2. Totals 23-59 7-15 55.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (2-2): Jesse Hernandez 4 4-4 16, Sam Larson 2 0-0 5, Quinten Shelton 0 1-2 1, Bryson Olson 8 0-0 18, Creighton Fisher 2 0-1 5, Mason Berndt 0 2-2 2, Paul Barr 1 3-5 5. Totals 17-50 10-14 52.

Webster 14 24 36 55

Aberdeen Roncalli 3 23 41 52

3-point field goals – Mount 2; Hernandez 4, Larson, Olson 2, Fisher. Total fouls – Webster 15; Aberdeen Roncalli 15. Rebounds – Webster 33 (Shoemaker 8, McCreary 7); Aberdeen Roncalli 29 (Hernandez 5). Turnovers – Webster 15; Aberdeen Roncalli 18.