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At Polson in the 2016 boys rendition of the rivalry wrangle, the visiting Chiefs played the host Pirates tough through the opening quarter and a half before Polson was able to gain a bit of separation just prior to halftime. Ronan kept pace with the pesky Pirates in large measure on account of the hot hand of two of their players, senior guard Jackson Duffey and sophomore forward Anthony Camel both netting a pair of triples each in the early going.

Ronan held their own within proximity of the margin through the first half of the third period to keep within striking distance, but then watched their aspirations take a precarious plunge for the worse when they tried to push the pace on the Pirates. Ordinarily such a strategy may have borne basketfuls of fruit to close the gap. But this particular rendition of Pirates have an accentuated aptitude further seasoned from stiff competition. Instead of closing the gap, the Pirates jumped some passing lanes and rerouted possessions the other way into transition baskets that mushroomed the lead into double digits among the teens. The Chiefs were able to make a little run during the final frame to carve into the deficit, but were unable to persuade the Pirates to be more accommodating in their hospitality.

Ronan placed a trio of players in double figures, led by Zeke Misa with a dozen and a half, followed by a baker’s dozen from Duffey along with a conventional dozen from Camel. Overall, the Chiefs rained ten triples down upon the Pirates, tripling the return rate of the long range Pirate shooters. Zeke Misa added some further entertainment for the crowd at the end by burying a buzzer beating triple as the clock expired. Another quartet of triples propelled Camel to crest the varsity career century plateau.

Pirate post Matt Rensvold led all scorers with 21 points, cresting the varsity career 900 point scoring plateau in the process as well as surpassed his varsity career half millennial (500) rebounding mark. Fellow gridiron Griz-bound senior guard/forward Tanner Wilson breached the varsity career 600 point scoring barrier.

Polson (2-4) will ring in the New Year with a Bitterroot bash against the visiting Stevensville Yellowjackets, followed by their conference opener against visiting Columbia Falls. Ronan (1-1, 4-3) host the 6B Wardens of Deer Lodge on Tuesday, January 3, then travel to tackle Troy on Saturday, January 7.

Ronan 12 12 9 18 – 51

Polson 13 18 20 11 – 62

RONAN – Zeke Misa 18, Jackson Duffey 13, Anthony Camel 12, Kobe Morigeau 4, Kasey Mock 2, Aaron Misa 2.

POLSON – Matt Rensvold 21, Tanner Wilson 13, J’von Johnson 10, Jeremiah North Piegan 10, Jaydon Bautista 3, Shade Main 3, Connor Lanier 2.

3FG – Ronan 10 (Duffey 4, Camel 4, Z.Misa 2), Polson 3-15 (Johnson 2, Bautista). REBOUNDS – Ronan *20 (A.Misa 7, Camel 3, Josh Stewart 3, Duffey 2, Z.Misa 2, Mock 2, Perry Tanzetanga), Polson 32 (Rensvold 8, NorthPiegan 6, Bautista 6, Johnson 4, Main 3, Wilson 2, Sam Schultz 2, Lanier). ASSISTS – Ronan *7 (Z.Misa 3, Duffey 2, A.Misa, Panzetanga), Polson 19 (Wilson 8, Johnson 4, Bautista 2, Rensvold 2, Main 2, Lanier). STEALS – Ronan *9 (Z.Misa 3, Duffey 2, Mock 2, A.Misa, Morigeau), Polson 20 (Johnson 5, Rensvold 5, Lanier 4, Wilson 3, NorthPiegan 2, Bautista). BLOCKS – Polson *1 (Johnson).(Tu20Dec16)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): Ronan gm specs derived from tally by John Heglie may not be comprehensive.

Girls hoop it up: Maidens make most of merrymaking before holiday break

Ronan 64, Polson 50

At Polson in the girls segment of the 2016 rivalry wrangle, the visiting Maidens and the host Lady Pirates put on a competitive showcase as both teams matched the other stride for stride through the first and final frames.

The Lady Pirates nursed together a precarious edge in the early going of the second quarter before the Maidens dialed the operator long distance and completed the call from beyond the arc to take over the lead for good 23-22 that would continue to expand until intermission. Polson was able to briefly whittle the difference back into single figures after halftime, but thereafter Ronan continued to run their potent offense with a measure of resolute efficiency that precluded the gap from shrinking into risky territory. The win stretched the Maiden win streak over the Lady Pirates to the past half dozen encounters. One has to trace back five seasons to find the last time Polson prevailed in this cross county clash. Lee Camel led all scorers with 23 points, while cousin Alicia Camel churned in a double-double with 16 points along with 14 boards that included a handful of whirling spin moves in the paint that evaded containment efforts by defenders. Micalann McCrea likewise turned in a double-double that included 15 points along with ten rebounds.

The silver lining that shone bright despite the Lady Pirate loss was that their offense showed indications of vibrant life by generating a point tally in the 50s for the first time in three season. One has to stretch back to 51 posted against Whitefish late January 2012 and a season high 55 against 7B Eureka early February 2012. Neither of those teams back then were on the ascent to anywhere, whereas the Maidens are ranked among the upper eschalon of statewide leaders who have to be considered part of the conversation as contenders for harvesting some form of postseason hardware when the season winds to a close.

Polson was able to showcase some strengths with a combination of snippets of an inside game, dialing the operator long distance from beyond the arc that helped open up the middle as well as disrupting passing lanes and converting forced turnovers into transition baskets. Both junior guard Kaelyn Smith and senior post Mollie Fisher splashed tandem 16s, while senior guard Lauren Lefthand was knocking on the door of double digits by netting nine. Smith crested the varsity career century scoring plateau with her tally among the teens.

On the Maiden half of the ledger, Lee Camel not only surpassed her 100th point of this season, but also reeled in her varsity career 300th rebound and closed to within her ppg (points per game) average of cresting the varsity career millennial (1000) scoring plateau. Cousin Alicia Camel pilfered her varsity career 100th steal and has closed to within four games of breaking the varsity career 1000 scoring threshold herself based on her ppg average thus far this season. Fellow Maiden Micalann McCrea also scored her 100th point of this season and continues to contribute to the lower half of her varsity career 600s.

Ronan (2-0, 7-0) takes a pristine record into the Christmas break, while Polson (0-6) will endeavor to exorcize the ghost of Christmas past as they seek to ring in the New Year with some wins as their brutal schedule begins to subside.

Ronan 14 19 20 11 – 64

Polson 14 8 17 11 – 50

RONAN – Lee Camel *23, Alicia Camel *16, Micalann McCrea 15, Jaelynn Askan 4, Tianna Ulutoa 2, Hannah Moss 2, Kianna Finley 2.

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith 16, Mollie Fisher 16, Lauren Lefthand 9, Quinn Motichka 7, Olivia Perez 2.

3FGs – R2-16 (McCrea, L.Camel), P5-16 (Smith 4, Motichka). REBOUNDS – Ronan 48 (A.Camel 14, McCrea 10, L.Camel 7, Askan 7, Ulutoa 4, Moss 2, Conko-Camel, noID3), Polson 24 (Fisher 8, Motichka 5, Perez 5, Lefthand 4, Smith, Tasha Gravelle). STEALS – Ronan 11 (L.Camel 3, McCrea 3, A.Camel 2, Ulutoa, Askan, Conko-Camel), Polson 10 (Smith 5, Lefthand 2, Motichka, Fisher, Alex Pierre). ASSISTS – Ronan 18 (Conko-Camel 5, A.Camel 4, Moss 4, L.Camel 3, McCrea, Askan), Polson 5 (Lefthand 3, Smith, Pierre). BLOCKS – Ronan 2 (L.Camel, Conko-Camel), Polson 5 (Smith 3, Fisher, Lefthand). (Tu20Dec16)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): L.Camel 25p, A Camel 14p. Polson stat specs derived from unofficial tally by John Heglie. Some details may vary from official summary.