Chiefs clinch fourth place at state
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
GREAT FALLS — Both the Ronan Chiefs and Maidens high school basketball teams finished their seasons on the road in Great Falls last weekend competing at the Four Seasons Arena during the State A tournament.
In tournament first round action on Wednesday, the Chiefs dreams of a state championship were derailed in a 62-44 loss to the Laurel Locomotives.
Playing to a 24-24 deadlock at the half, Laurel took control of the game when it outscored the Chiefs 15-9 in the third quarter and 23-11 in the fourth quarter. Leonard Burke paced the Chiefs with 12 points.
After dropping their tournament opener, it didn’t take long for the Chiefs to get back in the win column on Friday with a 50-46 loser-out bracket victory over the Hardin Bulldogs.
Burke paced Ronan with a game-high 17 points followed by Zarec Couture and Elijah Tonasket who scored 11 points each.
On Saturday morning with a late afternoon consolation game bracket spot up for grabs, the Chiefs battled the Polson Pirates for the third time this season.
In the low scoring back and forth game, the Chiefs led by four points at halftime.
During the second half, the Chiefs held off a surging Pirate offense to claim a narrow one-point 38-37 victory.
Ronan was led by a huge morning from senior Girma Detwiler who finished with an assist, six block shots and a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double.
In the consolation final, the Chiefs faced the Laurel Locomotives for the second time in the tournament. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Laurel once again came away with the victory as they beat Ronan 56-49 to claim third place.
Detwiler and Burke both scored a Chief team high 14 points, while Elijah Tonasket chipped in 13 points.
The Chiefs finished their season fourth overall in Class A with a season mark of 14-9.
In Wednesday’s opening round of the girls’ bracket, the Hardin Lady Bulldogs got off to a fast start and didn’t look back in a lopsided 66-38 win over the Western A Divisional runner up Maidens. Jaylea Lunceford scored a Ronan team high seven points followed by LaReina Cordova, Margaret Cordova, Areanna Burke and Jaeleigh Gatch who all scored six points apiece.
Playing in the loser-out bracket Thursday, the Maidens basketball season came to an end in a 56-49 loss to Northwestern A foe the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs.
Three different Maidens scored in double digits led by Gatch with 15 points, Burke with 12 points and 10 points by Lunceford.
The Maidens finished their 2020-21 campaign with an overall season mark of 12-10.
2021 Class A Boys Basketball Tournament
Four Seasons Arena – Great Falls
Ronan Chiefs 44
Laurel Locomotives 62
Ronan 11 13 9 11 – 44
Laurel 13 11 15 23 – 62
RONAN – Ruben Couture 9; Girma Detwiler 7; Payton Cates 2; Zarec Couture 3; Elijah Tonasket 6; Leonard Burke 12; Marlo Tonasket 5.
Hardin Bulldogs 46
Ronan Chiefs 50
Hardin 13 11 14 8 – 46
Ronan 14 18 8 10 – 50
RONAN – Ruben Couture 3; Girma Detwiler 4; Zarec Couture 11; Elijah Tonasket 11;
Leonard Burke 17; Sage Coffman 2; Payton Cates 2.
Ronan Chiefs 38
Polson Pirates 37
Ronan 9 13 8 8 – 38
Polson 8 6 12 11 – 37
RONAN – Ruben Couture 5, Girma Detwiler 10, Zarec Couture 5, Elijah Tonasket 2, Leonard Burke 3, Payton Cates 2, Sage Coffman 5, Marlo Tonasket 6.
POLSON – Xavier Fisher 4, Jarrett Wilson 7, Darian Williams 7, Colton Graham 10, Braunson Henricksen 6, Alex Muzquiz 1, Trevor Lake 2.
Laurel Locomotives 56
Ronan Chiefs 49
Laurel 12 14 15 15 – 56
Ronan 14 11 5 19 – 49
RONAN – Ruben Couture 3; Girma Detwiler 14; Elijah Tonasket 13; Leonard Burke 14; Marlo Tonasket 5.
2021 Class A Girls Basketball Tournament
Four Seasons Arena – Great Falls
Hardin Bulldogs 66
Ronan Maidens 38
Hardin 14 14 16 22 – 66
Ronan 5 5 5 23 – 38
RONAN ¬– Margaret Cordova 6; LaReina Cordova 4; Leina Ulutoa 5; Jaeleigh Gatch 6;
Danielle Coffman 3; Areanna Burke 6; Jaylea Lunceford 7; Olivia Heiner 1.
Whitefish Bulldogs 56
Ronan Maidens 49
Whitefish 14 18 11 13 – 56
Ronan 12 10 10 17 – 49
RONAN ¬– Olivia Heiner 3; Danielle Coffman 6; Haylie Webster 1; Jaylea Lunceford
10; Areanna Burke 12; Jaeleigh Gatch 15; LaReina Cordovan 2.
