HAYTI – Aberdeen Roncalli handled the half-court well, but could not stop Hamlin in transition Tuesday night, falling 55-25 to the Chargers in a Northeast Conference boys’ basketball contest.

Roncalli trailed by just seven points at the end of the first quarter, but hit a cold spell in the second quarter. The Cavaliers were held to just one free throw in that stanza, as Hamlin sprinted out to a big halftime advantage.

“They really pressured us,” said Roncalli coach Dan Gallagher. “They ran a little run and jump…and forced a lot of turnovers, and they were really good in transition.”

While the full-court game was not favorable for the Cavaliers, Gallagher said he was happy with his team’s defensive effort in the half-court setting.

“Our guys understood what they were trying to run as far as sets goes and took a lot of their options away,” he said. 

Hamlin, which is coached by former Roncalli coach Todd Neuendorf, was able to find some kick-out opportunities from three-point range, however, which helped stretch the advantage.

Gallagher said when the Cavaliers did get into their offense, they were able to get some inside touches.

“We just couldn’t finish as well as we would like,” he said. 

Easton Neuendorf led all scorers with 13 points for Hamlin. Evan Stormo added another 10.

Roncalli was led by Keegan Stewart’s seven points. Maddox May and Jayden Munroe had four points each.

The Cavaliers, 3-8 on the season, remain on the road for their next three games starting Thursday at Sisseton. 

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (3-8): Maddox Miller 1 0-0 2, Zee Mounga 1 0-0 3, Keegan Stewart 3 1-2 7, Maddox May 1 2-5 4, Aiden Fisher 1 0-0 3, Jayden Munroe 2 0-0 4. Totals 9 3-7 25.

HAMLIN (5-5): Evan Stormo 4 1-1 10, Easton Neuendorf 6 0-0 13, Brennan Keszler 2 0-0 4, Dawson Noem 1 0-0 3, Tyson Stevenson 2 4-4 8, Rylan Bawdon 2 0-0 5, Jackson Wadsworth 2 0-0 6. Totals 17 5-5 55.

Aberdeen Roncalli 9 10 19 25

Hamlin 16 29 49 55

3-pt FG – Mounga, Fisher; Stormo, Neuendorf, Noem, Bawdon, Wadsworth 2. Fouls – Aberdeen Roncalli 11; Hamlin 10.