RONAN BOYS BASKETBALL ROUND: The best for last

WHITEFISH - If the rest of the season plays out like the first

game did for the Ronan Chiefs, plan on seeing plenty of white

knuckles on the bench and in the crowd. Also expect to see a lot of

smiles and cheering fans.

Senior Edmond Dupuis' steal and basket in the waning seconds of

the fourth quarter lifted the Chiefs to an exhilarating 55-54 win

over Libby in their season-opener on Friday, Dec. 9.

WHITEFISH - If the rest of the season plays out like the first game did for the Ronan Chiefs, plan on seeing plenty of white knuckles on the bench and in the crowd. Also expect to see a lot of smiles and cheering fans.

Senior Edmond Dupuis' steal and basket in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter lifted the Chiefs to an exhilarating 55-54 win over Libby in their season-opener on Friday, Dec. 9.

"Quite the first game," Steve Woll, Ronan head coach, said. "There was a little tension and nerves going on."

Dupuis' final two points gave him a team-high 13 on the day, as Ronan overcame a 41-39 deficit after three quarters to eke out the victory.

"We're looking for leadership and to fill our roles," Woll said. "We don't know who our step-up guy will be from game to game. Everyone will do it and he stepped up."

Brady Oakland notched 12 points, Marcus Hungerford nine and Robert Faoa and Marley Tanner six apiece in the thriller.

"We didn't lose our composure and kept our emotions in check," Woll said. "We executed when we had to and didn't fold the tent when they made a run."

The Chiefs also got contributions from Zach Wagner with four points, Robbie "Le Bourreau" Gauthier with three and Dallas Jore, who put in two.

The next day against Bigfork, Ronan was without several main players who were taking the ACTs and fell 66-37, but got admirable performances from their underclassmen.

"It was good because mostly younger players played that game," Woll said. "Bigfork is No. 1 for a reason and it was good for the young kids, Dallas, Zach, Timmy (Woll), Carston (Baertsch) and Jalen (Bell) to play at that level and see what it's going to take."

Oakland set the scoring pace for the Chiefs with eight points, while Faoa and Wagner each had six. Woll added five, while Bell, Jore and Baertsch each put in four.

"We've got to shore up the defense and keep everyone on the same page," Woll said. "We'll move forward with defense, offense and our sets and keep building up."

CHIEFS VS LIBBY

Ronan - 14 - 8 - 17 - 16 - 55

Libby - 8 - 11 - 22 - 13 - 54

Chiefs scoring - Dallas Jore 2, Robbie Gauthier 3, Edmond Dupuis 13, Marcus Hungerford 9, Robert Faoa 6, Zach Wagner 4, Marley Tanner 6, Brady Oakland 7

CHIEFS VS BIGFORK

Ronan - 10 - 9 - 6 - 12 - 37

Bigfork - 14 - 18 - 16 - 18 - 66

Chiefs scoring - Carston Baertsch 4, Dallas Jore 4, Timmy Woll 5, Robert Faoa 6, Brady Oakland 8, Jalen Bell 4, Zach Wagner 6