Chiefs make their way to state
Rob Zolman
Ronan Chief Leonard Burke shoots a jumper over a Maroon defender.
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BUTTE — The Ronan Chiefs grabbed a third-place divisional trophy and their first State Class A boys basketball tournament bracket spot in more than a decade by defeating the Butte Central Maroons 54-49 at the Western A divisional boys’ basketball tournament consolation round on Saturday.
On Thursday, the Chiefs started divisional tournament action with a 67-50 loss to the Butte Central Maroons. Leonard Burke scored 15 first-half points to pace the Chiefs with a team-high 23 points.
In loser-out bracket action on Friday against the Columbia Falls Wildcats, the Chiefs rallied in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime where they outscored the Wildcats for the 57-49 win.
For Ronan, Burke scored 14 points, Elijah Tonasket had 12 points and Marlo Tonasket chipped in 10.
Fighting to keep their postseason alive Saturday morning, Burke lit up the scoreboard with a 38-point scoring frenzy to help Ronan slip past the Frenchtown Broncs 62-59. Also for the Chiefs, Elijah Tonasket netted 10 points.
Facing the Butte Central Maroons for the second time in the tournament on Saturday evening, Tonasket scored a team-high 18 points followed by Girma Detwiler with 12 points to defeat the Maroons 54-49. The win helped the team take third place in the tournament.
The state tournament begins Thursday in Great Falls at the Four Seasons Arena. The 12-7 Chiefs are scheduled to face the 12-4 Laurel Locomotives in first round action.
Western A Divisional boys’ basketball, Butte Civic Center
BC Maroons 67, Chiefs 50
Butte Central 8 15 20 24 – 67
Ronan 12 18 8 12 – 50
RONAN – Ruben Couture 2; Girma Detwiler 4; Zarec Couture 7; Elijah Tonasket 7; Leonard Burke 23; Dillon Pretty On Top 3; Payton Cates 4.
Wildcats 49, Chiefs 57 - OT
Columbia Falls 8 10 17 10 4 – 49
Ronan 9 5 11 20 12 – 57
RONAN – Ruben Couture 6; Girma Detwiler 7; Zarec Couture 7; Elijah Tonasket 12; Leonard Burke 14; Payton Cates 1; Marlo Tonasket 10.
Chiefs 62, Frenchtown Broncs 59
Ronan 15 11 19 17 – 62
Frenchtown 15 11 14 19 – 59
RONAN – Ruben Couture 2; Girma Detwiler 6; Zarec Couture 4; Elijah Tonasket 10; Leonard Burke 38; Payton Cates 2.
Ronan Chiefs 54, BC Maroons 49
Ronan 9 14 18 13 – 54
Butte Central 11 12 9 17 – 49
RONAN – Ruben Couture 7; Girma Detwiler 12; Zarec Couture 5; Elijah Tonasket 18; Leonard Burke 6; Sage Coffman 4; Marlo Tonasket 2.
