A late third-quarter run was enough for Aberdeen Roncalli to secure a win on Thursday night.

The Cavaliers used a 14-3 surge to end the third quarter and pull away from Britton-Hecla for a 59-44 Northeast Conference boys’ basketball win at Roncalli Gym.

The run began after the Braves cut the Roncalli lead to 40-34 with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter. During an ensuing timeout, Cavaliers coach Dan Gallagher said the message to his team was simple.

“There was not much to say except we’re better than the way we’re playing,” Gallagher said. “We need to stop them from scoring, and we need to start attacking.”

Meanwhile, Braves coach Troy Knecht was pleased with how his team entered the second half after being down 34-23 at the halftime break.

“Really came out nicely in the third quarter,” Knecht said. “I was happy to see that.”

However, the tide turned after the timeout as Roncalli aggressively attacked the basket, with Maddox Miller leading the way scoring seven points during the pivotal run.

“At times you just got to know when to help your teammates out and know when to generate that extra spark for your teammates,” Miller said, “and that’s what I tried doing and it worked.”

Roncalli struggled with a Braves 1-3-1 zone defense for much of the night, and despite leading 17-9 after the opening quarter, the Cavaliers’ shot selection was difficult due to Britton-Hecla’s defense.

“I don’t think we took care of the basketball really well,” Gallagher said. “We were trying to make passes that weren’t there, just lofting it up to guys where their defense is moving constantly. So if we see a pass that’s five seconds late, they’re going to be in recovery mode by then. Just need to do a better job taking care of it.”

Roncalli cashed in on seven 3-pointers in the first half, while five 3-pointers kept Britton-Hecla within close proximity, trailing by 11 at halftime.

Ty Fagerland, who nailed a pair of treys in the first half and three for the game, said the Braves game plan for staying in the game was simple.

“Moving the ball and getting open shots,” Fagerland said.

However, Roncalli’s late third-quarter run proved to be the clincher as the Cavaliers built a 54-37 lead going into the fourth quarter that denied the Braves any chance of a comeback attempt.

Knecht said miscommunication in the Braves’ defense led to Roncalli’s crucial run.

“We were supposed to be in a zone defense. The kids thought we were in man and we just kind of got lost,” Knecht said. “They hit a couple of threes, and you just can’t do that. You got to be locked in all the time. We kind of had a little mental lapse there.”

Britton-Hecla (1-12), which hosts Tri-State, N.D. on Saturday, was led by Fagerland with 13 points. The senior noted what the team needs to do to continue to improve.

“Just keep watching film,” Fagerland said, “and learning from your mistakes.”

Keegan Stewart led Roncalli (7-5) with 22 points, including four 3-pointers. Miller, who scored 19 points, said the Cavaliers will look at a few things as they prepare to play Madison in the Dak XII/NEC Clash on Saturday in Madison.

“We’re going to take the good things we did, take the bad things we did and we’re just going to learn from them,” Miller said. “We have Madison next and we’re just going to go play our best basketball then.”

BRITTON-HECLA (1-12): Ty Fagerland 5 0-0 13, Dawson Treeby 2 0-0 6, Daniel Person 1 5-10 7, Jordyn McGregor 2 1-2 6, Jaxon Zuehlke 1 0-0 2, Will Richter 2 0-0 5, Mitchell Burger 0 3-4 3, Graham Fosness 1 0-2 2. Totals 14 9-18 44.

ABERDEEN RONCALLI (7-5): Maddox Miller 8 1-1 19, Brody Weinmeister 2 0-0 4, Keegan Stewart 9 0-0 22, Parker Grieben 1 2-2 4, Jesse Hernandez 2 0-0 6, Landon Zikmund 1 0-0 2, Bryson Olson 0 2-2 2. Totals 23 5-5 59.

Britton-Hecla 9 23 37 44

Aberdeen Roncalli 17 34 54 59

3-point field goals – Fagerland (3), Treeby (2), McGregor, Richter; Stewart (4), Miller (2), Hernandez (2). Total fouls – Britton-Hecla 9; Aberdeen Roncalli 13.