Maidens run with Libby, Browning

The Ronan Maidens’ overall record could easily be reversed.

The Maidens, who are currently 1-3, could easily be 3-1 if they make a few modifications to their game, according to Ronan coach Steve Woll.

“We lost two games by a total of six points and could easily be 3-1 instead of 1-3,” Woll said. “We will improve once we start getting on the same page.”

One of the recent closely contested games was a 45-41 loss to Libby Thursday night at the Ronan Events Center.

A challenge Ronan faced was a height disadvantage against Libby and they were nearly able to overcome that against a conference opponent many have predicted will compete for the Class A state title this season.

“We tried to make sure Libby didn’t get the ball to their tall girls and we forced a lot of guard pressure,” Woll said. “I thought we could have done a better job on rotation. We will work on that and our press in practice. Obviously, we had to double their post and we had to keep them one and done with offensive opportunities.”

Woll said he hopes to improve his team’s performance in later portions of the second half to give his team a better shot at victories in tight games.

“I was really happy on how we played in the third quarter,” Woll said. “We kind of forgot it was the fourth quarter and they were able to do to us what we did to them (in the third quarter). I felt we didn’t play four quarters and play a complete game. We just need to put people in the right offensive spots. Everyone needs to make adjustments, play fundamentally against other teams, and try to make them do something different.”

The Maidens lost the second game of the week falling to Browning 52-37. The Maidens struggled to establish early momentum in the early season Northwestern Class A conference matchup.

“We got down in the first quarter but in the second quarter, we recovered and actually took the lead,” Woll said. “What has been our Achilles’ heel is our third quarter. We got outscored big in the third quarter. We are resilient and came back and fought hard but the game just got away from us in the third quarter.”

Steve Woll hopes to utilize the break in order to take the opportunity for the Maidens to adjust.

“We just have to work on making it a priority in practice and that is why you have to watch game film in practice and get over those things,” Woll said. “We have to start shooting free throws better. That is a mental or mechanic thing. We have to practice free throw shooting, boxing out and rebounding because every team that we face is going to be taller than us and we will be alright there.”

Prior to the break, the Maidens will face two additional tests against the defending Class A state champion Columbia Falls and the Hamilton Lady Broncs.

“We just have to keep working hard in practice and see what pieces fit where,” Woll said. “We have some JV kids that are chomping at the bit and are better and confident. Competing in practice is a good thing. If you can’t perform in practice, how are you going to perform in a game?”

In order to correct the free throw issue with his team currently shooting at 50 percent, Woll said he is going to start a free throw competition.

“We have to go back and give them a free throw competition, and work on their fundamentals and footwork,” Woll said. “We have to work on the release and repetition because no one is guarding you and you have ten seconds to shoot. That is what they used to call it back in the day ‘the ole charity strip’.”

The Ronan Maidens will try to make adjustments as they still continue to transition to Class. Though the Maidens lost a few key contributors to graduation from last year, they hope to be able to capitilize on the a solid season this season because they return a total of three starters, who starters on last year’s varsity team that went undefeated during the regular season of Class B, only to lose in the first-round of the Class A state tournament.