Despite its new status, it will be business as usual for the Aberdeen Roncalli girls’ basketball team this season.

The focus will center around defending the basket and not defending the state championship the Cavaliers won last season.

“We don’t talk a ton about it. We kind of have the same goals that we do every year. Our goal is to make the state tournament,” said Roncalli coach Derek Larson. “Yes, we had a different year last year than we have in the past, but I think our mindset is the same. Our goal is to make sure we’re getting better every single day. That’s where we start. We don’t talk defending our title or anything like that.”

The Cavaliers have dropped down to Class B this year after winning the Class A state championship last season. While the division may be new, most of Roncalli’s personnel is not.

The squad returns four starters from a year ago, including Northern State recruits, 6-foot-2 center Madelyn Bragg, and guard Morgan Fiedler.

The two will be joined by ball-hawking defensive specialist Olivia Hanson, and wing Jeci Ewart. Additional help will come from the likes Allie Morgan, Olivia Ulmer, Ella Hanson and Ava Hanson.

Bragg, Fiedler and Hanson were all named to the all-tournament team at last year’s state tourney.

Roncalli will not feature a ton of depth when it comes to numbers, but the skills and knowledge are there.

“We’re not real deep. We only have 12 girls out for basketball,” Larson said, “but I really do think we have some quality kids.”

While the Cavaliers may not talk much about being defending state champions, Larson knows full well that his team will be a measuring stick for opponents throughout the upcoming season.

“This year we have a huge target on our back every single night,” Larson said. “We’re going in and we’re going to get the best effort from everyone.”

Defense has been a staple for the program ever since Larson became the coach more than a decade ago and it will be that way again this season.

Last year Roncalli put together three solid games on the defensive end to fuel its run to the state title, allowing, 34, 35 and 31 points against the top teams in the state.

“Since I’ve been here that’s been our one focus. We want to win on the defensive end,” Larson said. “That’s definitely where we hang our hats still this year. Every single day we’re preaching defense. We probably go through our defensive stuff more than we do our offense.”

Larson said he hasn’t really given too much consideration to dropping down to Class B, pointing out there are quality opponents regardless of the class. Instead, he is focusing on staying healthy, putting in the work and then seeing how things play out.

“There’s a lot of things that have to go right from now until then,” Larson said of reaching the state tournament. “Every team I think is one injury away from not being as successful. Coming in and getting to work every day is definitely our number one thing.”