Chiefs, Maidens end season at conference tournament
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RONAN – The Ronan boys started off the Northwestern A tournament with a 39-37 victory over the Libby Loggers Thursday. However, their two-game winning streak came to an abrupt end as Columbia Falls proved to be too much Friday, downing the Chiefs 74-55. The Chiefs then fell to Whitefish 54-52 Saturday in the consolation game, finishing the tournament in fourth place. The team finishes the season 9-12 overall.
J.J. Tanner led the way in scoring against the Loggers, putting up 11 points, while Kevin Wroblewski added eight.
The Chiefs shot only 26 percent from the field during the game, but made up for missed buckets by shooting 83 percent from the free throw line, hitting 10 of 12 there.
The game was tied at 29 as the fourth frame began, where Ronan outscored the Loggers 10-8 to earn a 39-37 victory.
Advancing to semifinal play, the Chiefs were no match for top-seeded Columbia Falls. The Wildcats’ size played a key role in the loss, with the Chiefs only pulling down four offensive rebounds during the game.
Tanner and Justin Dustybull led the Chiefs, both scoring 12 points, while Wroblewski added 10 in the loss.
The Chiefs shot better during this game, hitting 48 percent from the field, yet fouled the Wildcats 25 times, allowing the team to tack on an additional 25 points from the charity stripe.
Five Columbia Falls players put up double-digit scores, with Nick Emerson leading the way with 16. Parker Johnson, Austin Barth, and Anthony Correa each put up 12 points in the win.
With the loss to Columbia Falls, Ronan boys matched up with Whitefish in the consolation game to decide who would take third place.
At the half, Ronan was down 32-22, but caught up during the second half to tie the game during its final moments game. With just one second remaining in the final frame, the Chiefs fouled Kyler Blades on a 3-point attempt. Blades went on to hit two of the free throws, giving the Bulldogs the 54-52 win.
Dustybull led the team with 15 points, while Tanner added 13 in the loss. Gage Vasquez led the Bulldogs with a game high 17 points, with teammates Cooper Olson and Drew Galbraith adding 10 points apiece.
The Ronan girls finished fifth in the Northwestern A tournament over the weekend. The Maidens took on the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs Thursday and suffered a one-point loss, then also loosing their consolation game against Polson. The Maidens finish the season with a 1-18 record.
The team was down 23-22 with only seven seconds remaining in the final frame as Ronan’s Courtney Clairmont was sent to the line after being fouled on a lay-up attempt. Clairmont missed both free throws, resulting in a heartbreaking loss.
The Maidens started the game off strong, leading 13-10 at the break, but the Lady Bulldogs rallied back to outscore Ronan 13-9 during the second half.
Alice VanGunten was the leading scorer for the Maidens with seven points, while Tailyr Irvine added four points.
Olivia Nagler led all scorers with eight points, while Jessica Poe put up six points.
Ronan went on to play Polson in a consolation game, with the Pirates winning decisively 56-24.
Polson never let the the Maidens into the game, as they put away Ronan early. At the half, the Pirates held a solid 20-10 lead. Things didn’t get much better for the Maidens as they continued to slip during the second half, being outscored during the final frame 24-5.
Clairmont led her team with nine points, while Alice VanGunten added four.
Breanne Kelley led both teams, with putting up an impressive 18 points in the win for Polson.
Riley Kenney, and Jonna Grant both added 11 a piece in the win.
Consolation
Whitefish 54, Chiefs 52
Ronan 12 10 14 16 - 52
Whitefish 11 21 11 11 - 54
RONAN - Justin Dustybull 15, Jarod Tanner 13, Marus Hungerford 7, Lucas Black 5, Chris Clary 4, Brady Oakland 3, Kevin Wroblewski 3, Jackson Jore 2.
WHITEFISH - Gage Vasquez 17, Cooper Olson 10, Drew Galbreath 10, Kyler Blades 5, Jose Sanchez 4, Mac Roche 3, Jace Kalbfleisch 3, Alex Durocher 2.
Semifinal
Columbia Falls 74, Chiefs 55
Ronan 15 12 17 11 - 55
Col. Falls 25 15 18 16 - 74
RONAN - Jarod Tanner 12, Justin Dustybull 12, Kevin Wroblewski 10, Marcus Hungerford 7, Lucas Black 4, Brady Oakland 3, Robert Faoa 3, Chris Clary 2, Jackson Jore 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson 16, Parker Johnson 12, Austin Barth 12, Anthony Correa 12, Kaleb Johnson 11, Colin King 3, Devyn Rocker 3, Cale Vukonich 3.
Opening Round
Chiefs 39, Libby 37
Libby 6 8 15 8 - 37
Ronan 5 11 13 10 - 39
LIBBY - Kelly May 10, Garrett Craig 10, Alex Cislo 8, James Hare 4, Reese Jensen 3, Cree Maloney 2. Totals 13-33 8-13 37.
RONAN - JJ Tanner 11, Kevin Wroblewski 8, Justin Dustybull 7, Lucas Black 7, Marcus Hungerford 3, Brady Oakland 3. Totals 12-46 10-12 39.
Loser out
Polson 56, Maidens 24
Ronan 4 6 9 5 - 24
Polson 8 12 12 24 - 56
RONAN - Courtney Clairmont 9, Alice VanGunten 4, Ashleigh Lynch 3, Tailyr Irvine 3, Mariah Cheff 2, Trinity Rosenbaum 2, Ashley Grandchamp 1.
POLSON - Breanne Kelley 18, Riley Kenney 11, Jonna Grant 11, Mariah Hamel 9, Heidi Rausch 4, Anna DiGiallonardo 2, Nina Orozco-Charlo 1.
Opening Round
Whitefish 23, Maidens 22
Whitefish 3 7 9 4 - 23
Ronan 6 7 2 7 - 22
WHITEFISH - Olivia Nagler 8, Jessica Poe 6, Simone Craft 5, Brooke Silier 2, Shannon Craft 1, Heather Bailey 1.
RONAN - Alice VanGunten 7, Tailyr Irvine 4, Ashleigh Lynch 4, Courtney Clairmont 3, Ashley Grandchmap 3, Mariah Cheff 1.
