It’s one thing to have a game plan, it’s another to execute it.

Redfield had a strategy in mind and employed it on the way to a 44-16 win over Aberdeen Christian during the Cavalier Classic at Roncalli Gym Saturday afternoon.

The Pheasants identified the Knights’ two main scoring options. While Jolie Fogarty and Ari Johnson each scored seven points apiece, Christian only managed two other points from the rest of its squad.

“We really identified Fogarty. She’s got some range. We just didn’t want to give her easy looks, and then Johnson inside,” said Redfield coach Tommy Gregg. “She’s raw, but she’s long and she’s developing. She’s athletic. She changes the game a little bit offensively and defensively. So we really wanted to take those two away and we built our game plan around that.”

The Knights simply had a difficult time getting the ball inside against Redfield’s defense.

“They knew what they were doing,” said Christian coach Matt Rohrbach. “They ran that kind of 1-2-2 zone. … They were just absolutely going to make sure that we were not going to have any dribble penetration.”

Meanwhile, the Knights are still trying to learn how to handle spots when they are put in those situations.

“It’s a learning experience with these girls, having to work with each other and use each other and understand where we need to be in certain spots,” Rohrbach said, “especially against a zone like that that was effective.”

The Pheasants took total control in the third period, outscoring Christian 18-2. Redfield repeatedly stole interior passes which led to transition baskets.

Kinley Smith was a big culprit, picking off multiple passes intended for Johnson.

“I just saw the ball,” Smith said. “We really wanted to push that third quarter, make a big gap, so doing anything to try to get that gap.”

Smith tried to identify where the passes were going and then made a break on the ball.

“Just trying to read their eyes, read where they’re going to pass the ball,” Smith said, “try to jump to the ball before they can.”

Gregg said that the senior is a key part of his team’s zone defense.

“We’ve always kind of stressed hang our hat on defense, and then just kind of go with matchups offensively,” Gregg said. “Kinley’s a smart kid. She can play on the bottom end or the back end of that zone. She understands the game and we call her the ‘Quick Smith.’ She just reads it well and anticipates.”

Once Smith had the ball, the Pheasants were flying to the other end of the court for high-percentage shots.

“The nice thing is when she gets it we got some kids up ahead of her and we’re looking to get into transition and we got some easy baskets,” Gregg said. “Those are confidence builders for where we’re at right now.”

Smith said the Pheasants try to take advantage of their speed and quickness to help fuel their offense if possible.

“We’ve definitely tried to push our transition offense, try to push that score there,” Smith said, “because sometimes we might struggle on offense otherwise, so we want to score as soon as possible.”

Johnson said Redfield’s defense made life tough on the Knights, who made just five total shots on the day.

“We haven’t really practiced that too much,” Johnson said. “They had a really good strategy against us. We just weren’t able to get our offense.”

Johnson continues to play stellar defense. The sophomore had five more blocks on the day to run her season total to 14 blocks in three games.

“I just try to stay above my girl, watch the ball, and block it, honestly,” Johnson said. “I just try to use my height as an advantage.”

Smith finished with 10 points to lead Redfield, while Hayden Gall and Rylee Frericks each added eight.

Christian, 0-3 on the season, plays Sully Buttes on Jan. 3.

“We want to continue to be a family,” Rohrbach said, “and you gotta be a family when times are good and when it’s bad.”

REDFIELD (1-2): Brynn Giblin 3 0-0 6, Charli Jungwirth 3 1-2 7, Layla Hardie 1 0-0 2, Hayden Gall 4 0-0 8, Kinley Smith 5 0-0 10, Katryn Evans 1 0-0 3 Rylee Frericks 4 0-0 8. Totals 21 1-2 44.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (0-3): Ari Johnson 2 3-4 7, Jolie Fogarty 2 1-2 7, Sophia Eichler 1 0-4 2. Totals 5 4-10 16.

Redfield 9 22 40 44

Aberdeen Christian 4 7 9 16

3-point field goals – Evans; Fogarty 2. Total fouls – Redfield 9; Aberdeen Christian 5. Rebounds – Redfield 30 (Smith 8); Aberdeen Christian 18 (Johnson 6). Turnovers – Redfield 15; Aberdeen Christian 23.