When you are still practicing in mid-March, you know you have made it.
And coach Todd Neuendorf's Aberdeen Roncalli boys' basketball program not only has made it back to the State A Tournament, the Cavaliers have become a fixture on the statewide scene.
This year, Roncalli (16-4) is seeded second in the State A. The Cavaliers will open against No. 7 Mobridge-Pollock (18-5) at 6 p.m. MDT Thursday in the Barnett Arena of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. Roncalli defeated Mobridge-Pollock 70-59 in the season opener on Dec. 10 in Aberdeen.
The Cavaliers finished fourth in the State A last year, fourth in 2011, and third in 2010.
If you are scoring at home, that is three state semifinals in three years. Not many programs have accomplished such a feat.
Roncalli has created some amazing memories in its last three State A appearances:
March 15, 2012: Rallied to win 57-54 over Chamberlain in the first round.
March 18, 2011: Lost 55-50 in three overtimes to St. Thomas More in the semifinals.
March 17, 2011: Won 55-49 over Miller in the first round, withstanding a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Rustlers.
March 20, 2010: The Cavaliers overcame a nine-point third-quarter deficit to earn third place in a 53-45 win over McCook Central/Montrose.
March 18, 2010: Elk Point-Jefferson led 49-46 with less than 90 seconds left in the first round. Sam Pfeiffer of Roncalli scored with 72 seconds left, then stole the ball and found Andrew Holmstrom breaking for the basket. Holmstrom scored on Pfeiffer's assist with 59 seconds left to put Roncalli ahead 50-49. Brendon Hoellein added two free throws with 14 seconds left to give Roncalli a 52-49 win.
Neuendorf has led Roncalli to 134 wins and five state tourney appearances (sixth in 2007) in his seven seasons at the school.
This year's edition of Neuendorf's Cavaliers are built on defense and the depth they has developed throughout the season.
"I believe our defensive effort has allowed us to be successful this season," Neuendorf said. "We hang our hat on defense. It is the only part of the game where you can always have consistency. I also believe the depth we have on our squad has paid huge dividends for us."
Top reserves for Roncalli include juniors Layne Holzer, Lucas Lorenz and Zach Schaefbauer. Plus, Neuendorf is happy to have 6-foot-6 senior Nolan Schlosser back after missing most of the season with an ankle injury.
"He is finally coming back and will play a little more for us now that his ankle has gotten stronger," Neuendorf said. "And we will need him because Dom (Roncalli's other 6-foot-6 senior Dominic King) tweaked his ankle in the region championship against Sisseton. Although Dom has been practicing on it, we will really need Nolan to step up for us like he did earlier this season before he got hurt."
Schaefbauer came off the bench last week to hit big shot after big shot in Roncalli's epic 56-54, three-overtime win over Sisseton in the Region 1A championship game. His two free throws with 36 seconds remaining in the third extra session proved to be the difference.
Schaefbauer was the Cavs' leading scorer in that game with 19 points.
The Roncalli starters are a balanced group as each contributes important minutes and stats:
- Senior Dominic King, 10.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg and a 6-foot-6 shot blocker.
- Senior Kory Schwan, 13.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg.
- Senior Kendal Deutsch, 4.9 ppg, 4.6 apg.
- Junior Zach Andera, 8.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.8 spg.
- Sophomore Braydan McNeary, 6.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg.
"I think our balance on this team is very unique," Neuendorf said. "We have a number of players who can score. We are very well balanced and it is someone different every night."
Neuendorf said in order for his team to have a successful weekend, it all starts with defense. "We will need to defend very well for three games. Then, these three things are the most important in postseason play:
- Value the basketball; limit our turnovers.
- Get easy baskets.
- Get to the foul line.
Slow starts in games have plagued the Cavaliers at times this season. "We need to get off to a good start," Neuendorf said.
Like the Cavs, the 2013 State A field features a lot of balance and talent.
"Clark Willow Lake and Madison have to be favorites," Neuendorf said. But Neuendorf and his team are sole focus is Mobridge-Pollock.
Neuendorf is expecting the tempo to be quick-paced. He said Mobridge is a talented team led by seniors Zach Dockter and Daniel Roberts, a South Dakota State track recruit who is one of the top discus throwers in high school state history.
"We have been to enough state tournaments to know there will be some nerves on the first day," Neuendorf said. "But we need to shake those off right away and come out and play with a sense of urgency from the start and take care of business. Hopefully we can get off to the same kinds of starts that we have in our last two basketball games and then let business take care of itself."
