PARKSTON – The same speed and athleticism that made Parkston a dominant football team for the past two seasons was on display on the basketball court Tuesday evening.

The Trojans, who had won 23 football games in a row before falling in the state final this fall, were a handful on both ends of the floor in a 55-42 boys’ basketball win over Aberdeen Roncalli at the Parkston Classic.

“Their movement, they’re already athletic as it is. They’re hard to stay in front of, just on-ball defense, but then add in all the movement they’re getting,” said Roncalli coach Dan Gallagher. “Our guys were definitely gassed throughout the game, just trying to stay with them. They played well. They were just tough to defend in that way.”

Parkston’s physical attributes allowed the Trojans to get in the passing lanes on defense, and break down the Roncalli defense and get in the lane on offense. It allowed the hosts to break away from a one-point lead at halftime and build a double-digit lead in the third period.

“Especially in transition that third quarter, they beat us down the floor so much. When we’re driving to the basket, they had great rotations. When they’re driving to the basket, they’re beating us off that first dribble,” Gallagher said. “We’re having to step in to help and then to have the easy kick out. Their speed and athleticism, it definitely was a huge factor in the game, no doubt about that.”

Another factor in the contest was Parkston’s ability to corral loose balls leading to 17 offensive rebounds for the Trojans.

“We said we’re going to be more physical, and make sure that we’re boxing out. A lot of times we did, it’s just with their movement it was tough,” Gallagher said. “Our zone didn’t help in the box out category, either, just because you don’t have a man to box out, so you have to find someone.”

The Trojans scored 14 unanswered points extending a 33-30 lead to a 47-30 advantage to take control.

Roncalli was led by Sam Franks, who worked his way into the lane on the way to 16 points.

“I think we saw in the fourth quarter Sam getting to the basket, just those drives and finishing at the basket,” Gallagher said, “because all those possessions end with free throws, too.”

Aiden Fisher contributed 11 points to the Roncalli total.

James Deckert had 17 points for the Trojans, 4-1 on the season. Brycen Bruening followed with 11, and Mason Jervik added 10.

“The whole team, different guys shot,” Gallagher said. “They just shot better than they have all year and it made their lives a lot easier and ours a lot more difficult.”

Roncalli, 2-3 on the season, plays at Webster on Friday night before hosting Aberdeen Christian on Tuesday.

Gallagher kept things in perspective after the setback.

“Good things came out of it, but I think a really big thing for us, is all the mistakes me made are definitely correctable: sprinting back in transition, making sure we’re getting a body on a body, things like that,” Gallagher said. “It’s a wake up call for us. You never want to lose, but hopefully we can kind of deep dig, find ourselves again, and just get better from this.”

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (2-3): Aiden Fisher 4 3-4 11, Sam Franks 6 3-4 16, Brody Weinmeister 2 0-0 4, Parker Grieben 1 2-2 4 Cam Olson 2 3-8 7. Totals 15 11-18 42.

PARKSTON (4-1): Mason Jervik 4 2-4 10, Sean Deckert 2 2-4 8, Grady Bowar 1 0-2 3, Reco Muilenburg 1 0-0 3, James Deckert 6 4-7 17, Brycen Bruening 5 0-0 11, Elliot Leischner 1 1-2 3. Totals 20 9-19 55

Aberdeen Roncalli 9 24 30 42

Parkston 12 25 43 55

3-point field goals – Franks; S. Deckert 2, Bowar, J. Deckert, Bruening 2. Total fouls – Aberdeen Roncalli 17; Parkston 11. Rebounds – Aberdeen Roncalli 32 (Jesse Hernandez 7, Fisher 6, Weinmeister 6); Parkston 41 (J. Deckert 10, Leischner 9). Turnovers – Aberdeen Roncalli 14; Parkston 8.