Chiefs, Maidens basketball gear up for season
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN – The Ronan Chiefs basketball team is itching for competitive action after getting a taste during the school’s annual silent auction, dinner and scrimmage Friday evening at the Ronan Event Center. Proceeds from the event will go towards funding the boys’ and girls’ meals on the road for the season.
Head coach Steve Woll says he basically has a brand new squad, as the Chiefs only return one starter from last season, Marcus Hungerford.
During preseason practices, Woll stated he is working with his team’s chemistry, to see what players gel best on the court.
“We’re seeing who fits,” he said. “We’re kind of trying to piece it together to see what works best with us.”
Although the Chiefs moved down from Northwestern A to 6-B, that doesn’t mean their competition will get any easier, Woll said.
“Our schedule is brutal,” he noted. “We have to bring our ‘A-game’ every night. We still play some Class A teams. It’s gonna be a big trial for us. If my guys think it’s going to be a walk in the park, they got another think coming.”
Expectations on the court are going to be the same, as Woll said his young team will need to work as one if they plan on making a big run this year.
“Our effort is going to have to be a team effort,” he said. “We don’t have a standout player to go to. We need to work as a team to be successful.”
Woll says the scrimmage is a good way to shake off the dust, get people in the stands and come back with a film to watch in practice.
“They’re tired of beating up on each other,” he said. “It’s kinda fun for the kids and parents.”
On the girls’ side, the Maidens not only get a new conference, but a new head coach in Clayton Curley, who served the previous two seasons at Ronan as the assistant coach.
The team returns two starters from last year, as Courtney Clairmont and Ashley Grandchamp bring experience that Curley will be glad to have once their season begins. The Maidens also return Ashleigh Lynch, who served as the team’s sixth man last year.
Curley says he is looking for point guard Grandchamp to lead his team, as she runs the point and breaks down the opposing defense.
The team is slim this year, with only 15 junior varsity and varsity players on the roster. With the low numbers, Curley expects a lot of his sophomores to step their game up and help with varsity game time.
The move to class 6-B is also not an easy transition for the Maidens, as Curley says it’s as tough as Northwest A.
“Florence, Loyola and Deer Lodge are all good teams,” Curley said. “Mission also beat us twice last year. It’s not an easy road, but that’s what I like.”
The Maidens are learning new offensive and defensive schemes that Curley is more familiar with, using what he learned in his college and high school days.
“Everything will be different,” he said. “It’s a whole new program, but the fundamentals are what matter.”
Curley added that Class B has a five quarter rule, so he can have more of his junior varsity players to help during varsity games.
“I see plenty of those helping us out, playing well, and finding more playing time,” he said. “We have 10 freshmen who’re looking pretty good, and should be able to help.”
During the scrimmage, Curley said he liked his team’s hustle and effort, but they still need to learn plays and get to know individual jobs.
