WARNER – Aberdeen Roncalli turned Highmore-Harrold inside out to produce a 59-34 non-conference girls’ basketball win during the Warner Classic on Saturday afternoon.

The Cavaliers made a point to work the ball inside where Karsyn Davis made the most of her opportunities on the way to 14 points.

“I thought we did a good job getting the ball to Karsyn in the post. … She’s good going left,” said Roncalli coach Derek Larson, “so we ran some sets to get the ball to her left hand, which she wants to go.”

Interestingly, Davis is actually right-handed, but prefers to finish with her opposite hand.

“I feel like I’ve always gone to my left. … It’s always been a thing I’ve done,” Davis said.

The 5-foot-11 sophomore knew the ball would be coming her way, because she was taller than any player on the Highmore-Harrold roster.

“I knew I could insert myself in there, I guess, and I just went for it,” Davis said.

Playing without fellow post Olivia Dix, who injured her ankle in a game on Friday night, Davis knew she had to step up.

“We were told to just get inside touches,” Davis said. “Having one of our posts out, I just knew I had to do my part and get in there.”

With Roncalli’s ability to make shots from the perimeter, the Pirates were forced to make a defensive decision on guarding the inside or the outside.

“They’re a good enough shooting team, too, that if you have success inside, now people start doubling down on your post players and now the guards are open,” said Highmore-Harrold coach Mike Ring. “They’re a great program.”

Ring knew what his squad was getting into, having faced the Cavaliers at the Classic last season as well.

“We played them two years in a row now up here,” Ring said. “We welcome that game, seriously if we’re trying to build something competitive.”

Of course, Roncalli’s trademark defense was on full display as well, harassing the Pirates into 21 turnovers and preventing Highmore-Harrold from getting into a rhythm on offense.

“They came at us full court,” Ring said. “They play very aggressive, athletic defense and they’re going to test your ability to execute offensively.”

Jada Baloun provided the majority of the offense for the Pirates, scoring 12 of the team’s first 14 points in the contest. She finished with 16 points, most coming in the opening half.

“She’s a good athlete,” Larson said. “We don’t have a great matchup for that. … I thought we did a good job on her second half. I think as a whole we didn’t lose assignments very much.”

Baloun had multiple finishes around the rim, often slipping behind the Cavaliers on backdoor cuts.

“Sometimes you just catch them. They’re watching ball and you just go back door,” Baloun said. “My teammates did very good at finding me. A lot of my points were off drives I’d say or just spot-up jump shots.”

The Pirates were coming off a big win over Sanborn Central-Woonsocket on Friday night, but Baloun said the Cavaliers provided a stiffer challenge.

“It was definitely way more intense,” Baloun said. “We just played Sanborn and that was pretty intense too, but these guys are way more up in your face. They’re a good team.”

Elyana Roach scored 16 points to lead Roncalli, and Rylee Voeller added nine.

Highmore-Harrold, which slipped to 15-3 on the season, is preparing for the upcoming postseason.

“We’re hoping that we’re going in the right direction late in the season,” Ring said. “It feels like we’re doing some good things. We’re playing some of our best basketball right now.”

The Pirates have two games remaining in the regular season and have major expectations for the postseason.

“We have high goals,” Baloun said. “We all want to make it to state and I think we have a really good chance of doing that this year.”

Roncalli, 14-4 on the year, is coming off a demanding stretch of basketball, including three games in the past five days, all away from home. The Cavaliers host Florence-Henry on Tuesday.

“Happy for our kids, happy to get through this stretch,” Larson said, “but as we said, there’s not a more important game than our next game against Florence-Henry.”

HIGHMORE-HARROLD (15-3): Autumn Fallis 0 1-2 1, Tenley McDonnell 1 2-2 4, Jada Baloun 7 2-2 16, Addison McDonnell 1 0-0 3, Elle Stagg 2 0-0 6, Whitley Baloun 2 0-0 4. Totals 13-37 5-6 34.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (14-4): Elyana Roach 7 2-2 16, Morgan Helms 0 2-2 2, Claire Crawford 1 2-2 5, Karsyn Davis 5 4-4 14, Rylee Voeller 2 4-4 9, Jillian Ellwein 2 0-0 5, Kadence Glynn 2 2-2 6, Grace Cogley 1 0-0 2. Totals 20-44 16-16 59.

Highmore-Harrold 4 12 22 34

Aberdeen Roncalli 9 27 41 59

3-point field goals – A. Donnell, Stagg 2; Crawford, Voeller. Fouled out – A. McDonnell. Total fouls – Highmore-Harrold 10; Aberdeen Roncalli 10. Rebounds – Highmore-Harrold 24 (J. Baloun 6); Aberdeen Roncalli 24 (Crawford 6). Turnovers – Highmore-Harrold 21; Aberdeen Roncalli 10.