ONIDA – Aberdeen Roncalli was unable to overcome an uncharacteristic quarter against a top-notch opponent Monday night.

The Cavaliers surrendered 23 third-quarter points and eventually fell to fourth-rated Class B Sully Buttes 49-41 in a non-conference girls’ basketball contest.

Roncalli trailed by just three at the half before the unbeaten Chargers took control in a 23-10 third-quarter. The Cavaliers, known for shutting teams down, could not slow down the host squad.

“We turned it over so much on offense,” said Roncalli coach Derek Larson, “and it seemed like they got so many transition points.”

Stevie Wittler had 10 points in the pivotal period and Lydia Hill had eight. By the time the quarter had ended, Sully Buttes owned a 16-point advantage.

“We told our kids, we can’t give up 23 points in a quarter and expect to win a basketball game,” Larson said. “It’s hard to battle back.”

The Cavaliers did battle back and made things interesting down the stretch.

McKenna O’Keefe’s three-point field goal closed the gap to 43-36 with 1:50 remaining and Roncalli eventually cut the deficit to 47-41 when Claire Crawford hit a three-pointer in the closing seconds, but it wasn’t enough.

Wittler finished with a game-high 24 points to power the 7-0 Chargers. She repeatedly got into the lane and gave the Roncalli defense trouble all game.

“She’s one of the better athletes for this area,” Larson said, “and we had a hard time staying in front of her.”

Hill added 14 points to the Sully Buttes total.

Crawford led the Cavaliers with 13 points.

The setback snapped Roncalli’s three-game winning streak.

“A two-hour drive here and on the road against a good team, we knew we were going to be in for a battle the whole night,” Larson said.

The Cavaliers, 4-2 on the year, are back in action this evening when they host Faulkton at Roncalli Gym.

Larson is happy for the opportunity to play right away, but knows his team will have to return to form on the defensive end.

“We need to get back to playing a little better defense than we did tonight to be able to win (Tuesday),” he said.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (4-2): McKenna O’Keefe 2 1-2 6, Camryn Bain 1 2-4 4,  Maddie Huber 2 0-0  5, Claire Crawford 5 1-2 13, Ava Hanson 2 0-0 6, Morgan Helms 1 0-2 2, Rylee Voeller 1 3-4 5. Totals 14 7-16 41.

SULLY BUTTES (7-0): Calleigh Chicoine 1 0-0 3, Stevie Wittler 8 8-9 24, Allyson Wittler 0 2-2 2, Lydia Hill 6 2-3 14, Addison Chicoine 3 0-1 6. Totals 18 12-15 49.

Aberdeen Roncalli 8 15 25 41

Sully Buttes 10 18 41 49

3-point field goals – O’Keefe, Huber, Crawford 2, Hanson 2; C. Chicoine. Fouled out – Voeller. Total fouls – Aberdeen Roncalli 14; Sully Buttes 14.