Starkel sparkles in Maidens OT loss
The Maidens lost two this past weekend: one a heart-breaker in overtime at home and another on the road in Frenchtown. The Maidens can hold themselves accountable for the 48-45 loss to Valley Christian on Friday at home, but the 52-31 loss to Frenchtown came at the end of much better team effort, Ronan head coach Jami Schall said.
While Schall appreciated the girls’ keeping themselves in winning contention against Valley Christian, the close score was below expectations, she said.
In Frenchtown, Schall felt her Maidens had held tight with stiff competition, although the score didn’t show it.
“I was very happy with our game against Frenchtown. We made good stops, had wide open breakaways offensively and a lot more patience, Schall said. “We played good defensively and maybe got a little tired and let them have some easy shots.”
Despite surges within each quarter, the Maidens lost each period to Frenchtown, although a late offensive push by Ronan took the third quarter to 12-17. The Broncs’ speedy point guard dodged too many Maidens for too many baskets in the end.
The game against Valley Christian, although not the Maidens best brought plenty of excitement to the Ronan Event Center — especially late.
Going into the third quarter down 22-18 to Valley Christian, Ronan senior Kaylee Larson was the first to strike with a free throw. Then a couple of fast breaks and a 3-point shot from Valley Christian’s Heidi Cross pushed the Lady Eagles’ lead out to 25-19. Senior Carli Starkel answered, driving inside to draw free throws and then knocking down a three to take the 26-25 lead for Ronan.
Again, Starkel struck, stealing the ball and gliding to an easy layup for.
Valley Christian scored again to tie things up at 28 at the end of the third.
Starkel opened up the period up with another trey, simply unable to miss with the ball in hand.
Down the line a couple fouls and a fast-break gave Valley Christian a five-point lead in the last minutes. Larson and sophomore Alice Van Gunten each put a couple of dents in that lead and a Starkel free throw tied things up at 38.
Valley Christian got up 41-38, but when a shot by Larson failed to land in the net, it was sophomore Taylor Lynch who collected, finishing the put-back rebound to bring her team within one.
Able to get another chance on the next possession, Larson made it even yet again with a free throw.
Only 20 seconds remained but neither team able to sink another basket.
It was time for overtime.
Senior Jade Michel drove in hard and found senior Jordan Strozzi open at the back door for the first points of the extra period.
Everything fell into the hands of the Eagles at that point, getting fouled as they drove and making their shots.
Up by five with thirty seconds left, Larson made a last second attempt after a pass from Lynch. It just wasn’t enough and the clock expired with the Maidens down two.
Larson lead the Maidens at Frenchtown with 13. She also pulled down 13 rebounds against Valley Christian.
Starkel was the star of the game at home. She had five steals, three rebounds and made three 3-pointers for 22 points against Valley Christian.
Schall said the team needed to work most on its free throw shooting, going 42 percent from the line against Valley Christian and just 27 percent against Frenchtown.
Next, Ronan goes to Polson.
“I was a Ronan Maiden when I was in high school,” said Schall. “That was always a good rivalry. It’s always nice to get a win against Polson.”
Her first year coaching at the varsity level in the rivalry game, Schall said the keys to winning would be free throws, turnovers and controlling the tempo of the game.
Ronan plays Polson at 8 p.m. on Friday at Linderman Elementary in Polson.
Ronan 7 5 12 7 - 31
Frenchtown 12 13 17 10 - 52
Ronan 10 8 10 13 4 - 45
Valley Christian 8 12 8 13 7 - 48