Ronan Chiefs come close to getting first win

The Ronan Chiefs basketball team is returning 11 players from last year's team, and is searching for their first win. They came oh so close last weekend, narrowly losing to Frenchtown on Friday, 45-43, and then losing to a talented Dillon team 76-48 on Saturday.

"We haven't been great so far this year," said head coach John Hollow. "We have some good guys back from last year. We have talent, athleticism, quickness and have a chance to be a good team, but right now we just lack confidence. The most important thing for our team right now is to get that first win so we can build up some confidence."

In the game on Friday against Frenchtown the Chiefs' stumbling block was their inability to rebound.

"They out rebounded us 30-15, as well as getting 17 offensive rebounds. That was the difference in the game. We gave them second chances and we couldn't finish when we had the same chances."

Hollow also stressed the coaches common maxim of learning how to win, an important aspect for a team trying to build up their program.

"We were in a position to win the game but we just don't know how to win yet," he said. "We haven't been in a close game like that for quite a while. It will come with experience."

Moss Tanner led the team with 18 points, two assists, three steals and one block. Nolan Harris had 10 points, one block and one steal. Cameron Barber added 10 points, four steals and three blocks.

The game against Dillon on Saturday was not the Chiefs' best. Ronan trailed 34-16 at the half. Cameron Barber led the team with 17 points, two steals and one block. Moss Tanner had 11 points, two assists and two blocks. Kyle Orr had five points and Nolan Harris added three. Billy Antonie, Makenzy Kelch, Jordan St. Clair, Gene Adams, and Mike Crawford each contributed two points.

Barber's fadeaway jumper at the 4:30 mark was the Chiefs' first points of the game. He was fouled later, and made the 3-point play but the Chiefs trailed by 10 after the first.

Tanner added a 3-pointer in the second, followed by a trey by Adams but the team was down by 24 by the end of the third. Tanner had another 3-pointer in the fourth, and Orr had a 3-point play at the charity stripe, but it just wasn't enough.

Despite the slow start, Hallow is confidant in his team's ability to rebound.

"I have faith in our team and our guys. We just need to take control and get that first win," he said. "That is by far the most important thing for our team to focus on at this point."