Chiefs feast on non-conference fare of Bulldogs and Eagles

By B.L. Azure

Mission Bulldog Riley Whitworth Charlo lays in a deuce Friday against Ronan. (B.L. Azure photo)

RONAN — The Ronan Chief picked up a pair of non-conference wins last week, one at home and the other on the road. Friday the Chiefs dispatched the Mission Bulldogs by 39 points at the Ronan Events Center. Saturday the Chiefs scored a significant win by topping Missoula Big Sky by three on the road.

Ronan 72, St. Ignatius 33
The Chiefs had little trouble with the young and relatively inexperienced Mission Bulldogs who are still in search of their second win of the season under rookie head coach James Lozeau.

Lozeau faced off against his former coach and mentor Steve Woll who also happens to be in his first year at Ronan. Woll left Mission to take over the Ronan program and his rookie year is far behind him.

Woll has taken over the reins of a Ronan team without a bona fide night-in night-out go-to-guy. They do have four players who can score in double figures on any given night. At times they play above themselves and at times below.

Against District 7-B Mission the Chiefs played within themselves and easily dispatched the Bulldogs for non-conference notch on their coup stick.

The Chiefs used its full court pressured defense to take the Bulldogs out of the game early by forcing turnovers that Ronan turned into easy points. Ronan led 21-5 after one and 42-13 at the half. The Chiefs outscored the Bulldogs 30-20 in the fourth to account for the 72-33 win.

Chief Kyle Hendrickx led Ronan with 14 points and Nolan Harris had 10

Bulldog Jorren Gies led Mission with 15 points and Lakota Matt had seven.

Ronan 47, Missoula Big Sky 44
The Chiefs motored to Missoula Saturday for an up-conference battle with the Western AA Big Sky Eagles.

The game was close throughout. Ronan held a narrow three-point lead after one quarter. Big Sky outscored Ronan 9-6 in the second to knot the game at 21-all at the half.

The Eagles regained the lead in the third quarter with a 12-10 effort and led 33-31 going into the fourth. The frantic fourth featured the Chiefs eventually catching Big Sky at 44-all. Then with 15 seconds remaining Ronan Chief Nolan Harris nailed a heavily defended 3-bomb that put Ronan up 47-44. The Chiefs were able to protect the lead to victory.

Chief Mike Fisher led Ronan with 13 points and Nolan Harris had nine including the game winning 3-bomb.

Eagles Mike LaValley and Brandt Montelius each scored 15 to lead Big Sky.

The loss put Big Sky at 6-5 overall.

• The Chiefs (1-3, 7-4) host District 6-B Missoula Valley Christian Thursday, Jan. 29 and host Whitefish (3-2, 7-4) Friday, Jan. 30.