By 
In a North-South showdown the visitors from the North got a more balanced attack on offense and picked up the win.
The Oakes (N.D.) Tornados had three players score in double figures and came away with a 66-54 win over Aberdeen Roncalli Tuesday, Dec. 30 inside Roncalli Gym.
Aberdeen Roncalli’s Sam Larson takes a jump shot during the Cavaliers game against Oakes, N.D. Tuesday, Dec. 30 inside Roncalli Gym. Larson had seven points in a 66-54 loss. Aberdeen Insider photo by Allie Hoekman.
“We knew (Oakes) was a very good offensive team,” said Roncalli head coach Dan Gallagher. “Really, the game came down to consistency and they were more consistent than we were (Tuesday).”
No one on the floor was more consistent than Cavaliers senior guard Jesse Hernandez.
Hernandez led all scorers with a game-high 30 points, scoring 22 in the second half.
“Jesse kept us in the game for sure,” Gallagher said. “He had eight in the first half and then went off in the second. He was actually looking to pass more because his shot wasn’t falling early. He didn’t have a lot of clean looks but he created shots for himself in the second half and just heated up.”
“There’s no one more frustrated than him right now. He’d give up most of his stats to win a basketball game. He recognized he was the lone returning starter from last year’s team and wants to prove himself,” Gallagher said of his senior.
Hernandez was the only Roncalli player to score in double figures. Sam Larson and Bryson Olson both had seven in the loss.
“We knew we had to get Jesse going and once we did I think the guys started relying on him a bit too much,” Gallagher said.”Our movement on offense wasn’t as fluid as it usually is and we didn’t get the amount of looks for different guys we normally do.”
Oakes was led by Jyles Meier who scored 20 points.
“(Meier) was big and quick and gave us some trouble in the post,” Gallagher said. “We hoped we could limit him on the glass, we just didn’t do a good job of limiting their dump-downs to him and gave him too many opportunities. When we did get the help he was able to kick it out for some good looks and their shooters hit some shots.”
Roncalli returns to the floor Saturday, Jan. 3 against Webster.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
- Aberdeen Central struggled from the floor scoring six points in the first quarter and just two points in the third and fell 61-31 to Harrisburg during the Hoop City Classic at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. The Tigers went 8-19 from the three-point line. Quin Rayman hit three shots from behind the stripe to lead Central with nine points.
Tuesday, Dec. 30
- Ryder Johnson led three Groton Tigers in double figures with 13 points as Groton knocked off Webster 63-43. The Tigers knocked down eight three pointers in the win and hit 16-20 shots from inside the three-point line. Matt Mount led Webster with 13 points.
- Leola/Frederick lost to Class B No. 3 Viborg-Hurley 57-42. Westyn Thorpe had 14 points in the loss. Brody Schroedermeier led the cougars with a game-high 24 points.
