SELBY – Aberdeen Roncalli closed out the regular season with a slight deviation from its usual game plan.
The Cavaliers hit just two 3-pointers while making 23 trips to the free throw line in a 62-50 non-conference boys’ basketball win over Herreid-Selby Area Friday night.
“We got downhill a lot,” said Roncalli coach Dan Gallagher of his team’s efforts.
Roncalli led nearly from the start, holding a 17-9 advantage after the opening quarter. The Cavaliers never looked back, pressuring the host Wolverines into a handful of early turnovers that gave Roncalli some added momentum.
“I thought our defense really played well, especially early on we got a lot of turnovers.” Gallagher said. “We were able to play off transition a lot, which is – I mean, most teams are best off transition, but I feel that’s really where our strength is, getting out and going. Our guards did a good job of getting out and deflecting and being able to push the ball up (the court).”
Austin Fisher was the recipient of a lot of those early transition buckets, as the senior went on to score 27 points for the Cavaliers.
“He was a downhill machine tonight,” Gallagher said. “He was the player we expect him to be. He found the matchups he liked and he got downhill, and his teammates gave him space to make it happen.”
Byson Olson with 13 points, and Jesse Hernandez with 10 joined Fisher in double digits.
Herreid-Selby Area was led by Xavier Ritter’s 19 points. Jared Weisbeck tallied a dozen, and Adonnais Mills finished with nine.
Both teams now turn their attention to postseason play, which begins next week.
ABERDEEN RONCALLI (7-13): Jesse Hernandez 4 1-2 10, Austin Fisher 8 11-15 27, Quinten Shelton 2 1-2 5, Creighton Fisher 2 2-2 6, Bryson Olson 6 0-0 13, Sam Larson 0 1-2 1. Totals 22 16-23 62.
HERREID-SELBY AREA (8-12): Tatum Quaschnick 1 1-4 4, Noah Schuetzle 1 0-0 2, Keegan Russell 0 0-2 0, Adonnais Mills 4 1-3 9, Jared Weisbeck 4 4-4 12, Timothy Rueb 1 0-0 2, Xavier Ritter 9 1-2 19, Kaden Russell 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-15 50.
Aberdeen Roncalli 17 34 47 62
Herreid-Selby Area 9 24 34 50
3-pt field goals – Hernandez, Olson; Quaschnick). Total fouls – Aberdeen Roncalli 16; Herreid-Selby Area 16.
