Ronan Chiefs split pair of non-conference road games

By B.L. Azure

MISSOULA — The Ronan Chiefs had little trouble adding another “W" to their season record with their 23-point victory over Missoula Valley Christian Friday. The on-the-road win upped Ronan’s record to 4-0 early in the season. Then came Saturday and a game at Southwestern A conference member Frenchtown where the Chiefs lost their first game of the season by five points. The game at Frenchtown was a rescheduled one from a weather related postponement the opening weekend of the season.

Former Mission Bulldogs coach and rookie Ronan Chiefs coach Steve Woll said his new charges are a good bunch of players to work with. He said they are well ahead of the learning curve and got there by hard work. Woll said they have to learn how to stay aggressive the whole game regardless of the score.

Ronan 74, Valley Christian 51
This one was over well before it was over. The Chiefs burst out to a 5-0 lead before Missoula Valley Christian checked in the scoring column. The Chiefs eventually led by 14 points at the end of one by outscoring the Eagles 25-11. The Chiefs used a full court pressing defense most of the game to spur their offense and led 49-26 at the half.

The Chiefs kept up the D pressure and O rewards in the third quarter and went on an 18-11 run and led 67-27 going into the fourth. Woll cleared the bench in the fourth and Valley Christian got the better of them 14-7 to account for the 74-51 final in Ronan’s favor.

Nolan Harris led the Chiefs with 18 points. Kyle Hendrickx had 13 and Dallas Cordier 11

Grayson Leder led Valley Christian with 16 points and Morgan Parsons had 14 points.

Frenchtown 51, Ronan 46
The Frenchtown Broncs blasted out of the gate and went up 19-6 after one quarter. The second quarter belonged to the Chiefs who went on a 16-4 run to pull with in one (23-22) at the half.

The Broncs added three to their lead in the third by outscoring the Chiefs 16-13 and led 39-35 entering the fourth. The Broncs added another point to their offensive tally in the fourth when they canned a dozen to Ronan’s 11 for the final of 51-46. The win put Frenchtown’s record at 2-2 while the loss put Ronan at 4-1.

Mike Fisher led the Chiefs with 16 points. Kyle Hendrickx canned nine points and Nolan Harris eight.

Tyler Wilde led the Broncs with 12 points. Tyler Normand and Sean Amundson each had nine points.

• The Chiefs (4-1) play at Polson 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 and play at Libby 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.