BRITTON -- Aberdeen Roncalli overcame several obstacles Thursday night to once again give itself a chance to clear the biggest hurdle of all.
The Cavaliers fought off foul trouble, a foreign defense and an inconsistent offense to turn back Britton-Hecla 53-40 and win the District 1A girls' basketball championship for the third straight season. Now, Roncalli is again just one win away from a coveted first trip to the state girls' basketball tournament.
"We knew it wasn't going to be an easy one," said Roncalli coach Derek Larson of his team's latest district title.
For starters, the Cavaliers were saddled with early foul problems. The squad had four starters with two fouls apiece in the opening half. What compounded the issue was that the Braves were busy cashing in at the free-throw stripe because of those fouls.
The hosts, who trailed by 13 points at one stage of the second quarter, made 10 of 11 free throws in the first half to stay in the contest.
Roncalli also had to contend with a special defense designed to stop leading scorer Mollee Karst.
"They played kind of a diamond-and-one against Mollee," Larson noted. "We weren't real prepared for that. It just didn't seem like we could get into an offensive flow the entire night."
The Cavaliers were clinging to a 30-29 lead late in the third period before a series of three-point field goals broke the game open.
Tage Hanson hit the first one, Hailey Kline nailed the second one and then Hanson hit another and soon Roncalli was in total control.
"When it got down to one, it seemed like it got back up to 10 in no time," Larson said. "If we don't make that run, it's a long game for us in the fourth quarter."
Hanson led a balanced attack with 15 points and Kline might have made the shot of the game.
"Hailey Kline having a huge three, I think that just boosted us," Larson said.
Taylor Hanson and Abby Dockter each contributed 10 points and Morgan Gunderson finished with nine.
Larson particularly praised the play of Dockter, who also led the squad with 10 rebounds.
"Abby Dockter played the best game of her career tonight," Larson said.
Britton-Hecla's Shelby Elsen led all scorers with 19 points.
"Give credit to Britton," Larson said. "They played a much better offensive game than the last time we played them."
In the end, the Cavaliers had enough answers and lived to play another day.
"We weathered the storm and came out on top," Larson said.
Roncalli improved to 17-3 and now moves on to the Region 1A championship game against Milbank at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Groton.
The Cavaliers have been to this stage numerous times before, including the last two years. They don't need to be reminded what is at stake.
"We know the obstacle ahead," Larson assured, "one more game for all the marbles."
BRITTON-HECLA: Shelby Elsen 5 9-9 19, Morgan Storley 1 0-0 2, Aria Meyer 1 3-5 5, Kassi Jones 1 4-6 6, Emily Bremmon 3 2-2 8, Mallori Rabenberg 0 0-2 0. Totals 11-38 18-24 40.
ABERDEEN RONCALLI: Tage Hanson 4 5-6 15, Taylor Hanson 2 5-6 10, Morgan Gunderson 2 5-8 9, Mollee Karst 1 0-0 2, Abby Dockter 4 2-2 10, Paige Sommers 1 0-0 2, Hailey Kline 2 0-0 5. Totals 16-35 17-22 53.
Britton-Hecla (8-11)| 7 18 29 40
Aberdeen Roncalli (17-3)|14 26 33 53
3-point field goals -- Tage Hanson 2, Taylor Hanson, Kline. Total fouls -- Britton-Hecla 20; Aberdeen Roncalli 20. Rebounds -- Britton-Hecla 16 (Elsen 4, Jones 4); Aberdeen Roncalli 24 (Dockter 10). Turnovers -- Britton-Hecla 11; Aberdeen Roncalli 16. Assists -- Britton-Hecla 5; Aberdeen Roncalli 11. Blocked Shots -- Aberdeen Roncalli 2. Steals -- Britton-Hecla 9; Aberdeen Roncalli 7.