RONAN GB ROUNDUP: Optimism

RONAN - While the Ronan Maidens have struggled in recent weeks

to gain some victories, the bright spots keep showing themselves,

leaving reason for optimism as the season continues.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 10 different Maidens scored points, but the

Florence Lady Falcons and their relentless press were too much for

Ronan in a 67-39 loss.

RONAN - While the Ronan Maidens have struggled in recent weeks to gain some victories, the bright spots keep showing themselves, leaving reason for optimism as the season continues.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 10 different Maidens scored points, but the Florence Lady Falcons and their relentless press were too much for Ronan in a 67-39 loss.

"We kept them down about 20 points from the first time around," Ronan head coach Clayton Curley said. "We slowed it down a bit more on offense. Florence shot more threes because we stayed in front of them and made them shoot from outside."

Raymi Clairmont, Brianna Frank and Ashleigh Lynch all led the Maidens with six points, while Ashley Grandchamp added five.

The Lady Falcons scored 34 first-half points to take a 16-point halftime lead. Florence extended the lead to 18 at 44-26 after three periods and pulled away late to secure the win.

Courtney Claimont and Trinity Rosenbaum each notched four points, while four players (Kianna Howell, Angela North Piegan, Alaina Madsen, Courtney Taylor) added two as part of the spread-out scoring.

"It's good for us to have that," Curley said. "Even though we got beat, we found ways to score."

Four nights later, the Maidens got a season-high 20 points from Courtney Clairmont and eight from Raymi Clairmont, but couldn't break through in a 54-42 defeat at Eureka.

"She puts up shots, but they weren't falling recently," Curley said of Courtney. "She got good shots against Eureka and was 6-of-12 from three-point range. She'll have the green light in the next few weeks, hopefully that builds her confidence."

Clairmont is averaging 9.6 points per game and has scored at least 17 four times on the year.

Eureka chipped away, outscoring Ronan by six points in each of the first two quarters and five in the third to take a 41-24 lead. The Maidens bombarded Eureka with 18 points in the final period, but it wasn't enough as they fell to 3-8 on the season.

Frank scored five points, Rosenbaum three and Madsen, Lynch and Grandchamp two each to round out the scoring for Ronan.

The Maidens will look to turn things around during a busy week. Results from Tuesday's matchup with Polson were unavailable at press time. Ronan will also face Loyola at home on Saturday before a home meeting with Hamilton on Tuesday.

FLORENCE 67, RONAN 39

Florence - 16 - 18 - 10 - 23 - 67

Ronan - 8 - 10 - 8 - 13 - 39

Maidens scoring - Raymi Clairmont 6, Brianna Frank 6, Ashleigh Lynch 6, Ashley Grandchamp 5, Courtney Clairmont 4, Trinity Rosenbaum 4, Kianna Howell 2, Angela North Piegan 2, Alaina Madsen 2, Courtney Taylor 2

EUREKA 54, RONAN 42

Ronan - 8 - 9 - 7 - 18 - 42

Eureka - 14 - 15 - 12 - 13 - 54

Maidens scoring - Courtney Clairmont 20, Raymi Clairmont 8, Brianna Frank 5, Trinity Rosenbaum 3, Alaina Madsen 2, Ashleigh Lynch 2, Ashley Grandchamp 2