Maidens rally to top Libby

RONAN — Comebacks are sewn on the gossamer wings of fate. The Maidens just seemed to want the ball more in the fourth quarter on Saturday night.

That will, and some bluster from Coach Dave Paisley and his thrown jacket after a blocking call he thought should have been a charge, led to a 58-50 Ronan victory as they improved to 12-2. Ronan shot the ball extremely well and adjusted their press in the fourth quarter to force Libby to take the ball up the sidelines. This maneuver led to multiple turnovers as the Maidens started to pull away egged on by their home crowd.

The first three quarters were a see-saw affair that featured superb inside passing from Des Krell and stiff defense. Shayla Couture had a block in the third quarter that helped ignite a rally, but Libby stormed back to lead 37-35 at the end of the quarter as Jamie Lake fouled out.

Krell had numerous offensive putbacks throughout the game as she led the team with 24 points. She made a dramatic three-point play with just under two minutes to play to knot the score.

With the score tied, Couture stole the ball and drove the length of the floor, but missed the lay-up. Libby rebounded and got fouled, but missed both shots. The Maidens then worked for a series of steals by denying the middle of the floor and converted several free throws. The straw that broke the camel's back was Couture's 3-pointer with less than a minute to go to give Ronan a 53-49 lead.

"We made a couple of changes with our press that seemed to bother Libby," said Paisley. "We made them take it down the edges in the fourth quarter, and denied the ball to Nicole Rowan."

The coach was also proud of how the team filled in for Lake after she got her fifth foul.

"All year our team has stepped up to fill the void if there is an injury, so our depth is a factor," said Paisley. "Even though we have a two-game lead in the division, we'd like to build on it."

Ronan manhandled Hamilton last Thursday, 51-42.

The Maidens play at Whitefish on Thursday and at Bigfork on Saturday.

Ronan 51, Hamilton 42

Hamilton 9 12 11 10 — 42

Ronan 10 13 18 10 — 51

HAMILTON: Laci Goodwin 3, Claire Schultz 9, Kiki Fisher 3, Hannah Linkenhoker 5, Jessica Huseby 16, Jessica Hill 6.

RONAN:Lauryn Lynch 10, Cambrie Starkel 5, Shayla Couture 4, Des Krell 11, Jamie Lake 17, Bridget Taylor 4.

Ronan 58, Libby 50

Libby 11 16 10 13 — 50

Ronan 12 10 13 23 — 58

LIBBY: Sam Schultz 4, Nicole Rowan 18, Sarah Becker 11, Sarah Hodel 3, Erin Bothman 7, Rose Young 6, Teri Robo 1.

RONAN:Lauryn Lynch 6, Cambrie Starkel 5, Shayla Couture 13, Des Krell 24, Jamie Lake 7, Bridget Taylor 2.