CLEAR LAKE – The Aberdeen Roncalli girls’ basketball program tipped off its season with a dominant 67-35 Northeast Conference road win over Deuel Friday night in Clear Lake.

Morgan Fiedler and Madelyn Bragg, both Northern State commits, combined for 40 of the Cavaliers’ 67 points, though the remainder of the offensive onslaught was a balanced effort.

Roncalli coach Derek Larson said his squad took a couple lumps in the first quarter, but recovered well in the second quarter.

“(Deuel) came out and made some shots, especially in the first half,” Larson said. “We had a time, I think it was 8-0, where we missed a couple easy bunnies that would have made it 12 or 14. But we missed a couple easy ones and then they answered back and made a couple in a row.”

Deuel cut the lead down to five or six points, Larson said, pointing out Deuel’s Haley Winter as the catalyst for that Cardinal run.

“We didn’t close out on her very well,” Larson said.

But the second half told a much different story.

Roncalli put the clamps down defensively, holding the host Cardinals to just 15 points in the second half, including three in the third quarter alone. Roncalli’s already double-digit lead at the half ballooned to more than 20 points in that third stanza.

“After we got past halftime, we defended really well,” Larson said.

That defensive effort allowed the Cavaliers to both score in transition and to spread its offensive touches around.

“Jeci Ewart hit a couple and Olivia Hanson defended well and had a couple transition buckets, as well,” Larson said.

Fiedler had 21 points and Bragg 19 in the victory.

Roncalli returns home to host Mobridge-Pollock on Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. as part of a girls and boys doubleheader.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI: Madelyn Bragg 9 0-1 19, Allie Morgan 2 0-0 5, Morgan Fiedler 10 0-2 21, Jeci Ewart 3 0-0 7, Olivia Hanson 2 2-3 6, Ella Hanson 2 0-0 4, Ava Hanson 2 0-2 4, Madison Martin 0 1-2 1. Totals 30 3-10 67.

DEUEL: Haley Winter 5 4-4 17, Josie Andersen 1 0-0 2, Harley Hennings 3 1-3 7, Jaycee Hourigan 1 0-0 2, MaKenzie Hunt 1 0-0 2, Jalyn Bury 1 0-0 3. Totals 12 7-9 35.

Aberdeen Roncalli 19 36 55 67

Deuel 12 20 23 35

3-pointers: Roncalli 4 (Bragg, Morgan, Fiedler, Ewart); Deuel 4 (Winter 3, Bury). Fouls: Roncalli12; Deuel 9.