Maidens' perfect season ends with loss to Bigfork

RONAN — Perfection was fleeting for the Maidens after their conference-opening victory against Whitefish on Friday ran their record to 7-0. Yet it was Bigfork's free-throw shooting and zone defense that proved too much the next night as the Vals eked out a 48-44 win versus Ronan.

Leading scorer and captain Desiree Krell fouled out with 2:24 left and Bigfork leading 43-39. She made a three-point play seconds earlier to pull Ronan to within two points.

Bigfork used a zone to smother Ronan's inside presence and force them to make outside shots. The Vals' effectiveness at preventing easy shots was a big reason they prevailed.

"We didn't shoot the ball well tonight and we weren't aggressive," said Ronan coach Dave Paisley. "But give Bigfork credit—they did a good job of handling our press."

Bigfork's ability to advance the ball against pressure was still in doubt as time wound down in the fourth quarter. Lauren Lynch made two free throws after Krell fouled out to cut the deficit to two, then Kayla Couture stole the ball and made a lay-up to knot the game at 43 with two minutes remaining.

The rest of the game was a melange of free throws and sloppy ball-handling. Kira Crenshaw stole the ball for Ronan again, but they couldn't convert on free throws. Ronan stole the ball once more, and missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Bigfork was fouled on a shot and made both free throws with 45 seconds left, then a jump ball followed a couple plays later.

Crenshaw made one of two free throws to make the score 47-44, but only had 13 seconds left in the game and was forced to foul. The Maidens struggled to find open shots behind the three-point line in the final minute of the game.

In the end, it just wasn't meant to be.

Ronan was without key starters Jamie Lake and Cambrie Starkel, both of whom sat out both games for disciplinary reasons. The Maidens next game is Thursday (today) at home versus Sentinel.

Ronan 54, Whitefish 48

Whitefish 16 12 11 9 - 48

Ronan 16 13 11 14 - 54

WHITEFISH - Kirsten Blackburn 8, Ally Withey 6, Kayla Salisbury 9, Traci Schwada 3, Tessa Kalfell 16, Erin Greiner 6.

RONAN - Kira Crenshaw 6, Lauren Lynch 12, Kayla Couture 3, Shayla Couture 10, Desiree Krell 24, Bridget Taylor 1.

Bigfork 48, Ronan 44

Bigfork 15 9 14 10 - 48

Ronan 16 12 8 8 - 44

BIGFORK - Callie Gunderson 7, Hannah Hilley 14, Nikki Thompson 4, Carly Hilley 5, Breanna Brendsel 4, Alyssa Fierro 2, Beth Brenal 12.

RONAN - Kira Crenshaw 3, Lauren Lynch 12, Kayla Couture 4, Shayla Couture 4, Desiree Krell 15, Lindsay Roberts 2, Bridget Taylor 4.