Aberdeen Roncalli’s Rylee Voeller, back left, puts up a shot over Highmore-Harrold’s Addison McDonnell, center, during Saturday’s game at the Warner Classic in Warner. In the foreground are the Cavaliers’ McKenna O’Keefe and Highmore-Harrold’s Autumn Fallis (1). Photo by John Davis taken 2/15/2025
WARNER – Aberdeen Roncalli jumped in front early and pulled steadily away for another convincing girls’ basketball victory, this time a 68-33 non-conference win over Highmore-Harrold during the Warner Classic.
While the two teams ended the opening quarter tied at 14, Roncalli coach Derek Larson said his squad’s issues were entirely fixable.
“I thought the first quarter, we sent them to the free throw line too many times,” Larson said. “After that point, I thought we did a much better job of not fouling.”
But if Highmore-Harrold was scoring by ones in the first quarter, the Cavaliers countered by threes the rest of the way. Roncalli finished with 10 treys, eight of which came in the final three quarters of the night.
“We shot the ball really well in the second half,” Larson said. “Rylee Voeller had six threes tonight.”
Voeller spread those six threes evenly throughout the game, finishing with 19 points. Ava Hanson added 14, as did Claire Crawford. Maddie Huber chipped in 10 points for a balanced Cavalier attack.
Aberdeen Roncalli’s Claire Crawford, left, moves to the basket past Highmore-Harrold’s Autumn Fallis, center as Emma Ferens, back right, looks on during Saturday’s game at the Warner Classic in Warner. Photo by John Davis taken 2/15/2025
“Four starters in double figures, which is important for us,” Larson said. “It makes us hard to guard if they have to guard all five people all the time.”
After Highmore-Harrold’s free throw-bolstered opening quarter, the Pirates struggled to find ways of putting points on the board, including a fourth quarter in which Highmore-Harrold had just one field goal and scored just three points.
“Obviously there’s gonna be nights you don’t shoot it well,” Larson said. “We can always play defense. We did that tonight.”
Aberdeen Roncalli’s Maddie Huber, center and McKenna O’Keefe, right, pressure Highmore-Harrold’s Tenley McDonnell, left, during Saturday’s game at the Warner Classic in Warner. Photo by John Davis taken 2/15/2025
Roncalli (13-5) heads to Florence-Henry on Tuesday before returning home to conclude the regular season against Deuel.
“I thought our last two (games), we’ve played really well,” Larson said. “We want to continue that upward momentum.”