Maidens' run ends at state
Ronan senior Jaylea Luncceford takes a shot against Hardin at the state tournament. (Courtesy of Bob Gunderson)
After an inspiring string of wins at divisionals, the Ronan Maidens wrapped up their season with a pair of losses at the Class A state tournament at Great Falls.
Ronan finished 12-9 on the year after a 66-38 tourney opener Wednesday against Hardin and a 56-49 loss to league foe Whitefish on Thursday.
Turnovers plagued Ronan against Hardin. They committed 20 in the first half alone, when Hardin built a 28-10 lead and never looked back.
Jaylea Lunceford scored seven points to lead Ronan, while Ari Burke added six points. The Maidens also got six points each from Jaeleigh Gatch and Margaret Cordova.
Madeline McCrea grabbed six rebounds.
Against Whitefish on Saturday, Gatch broke out with a 15-point game and Burke scored 12. Lunceford just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Whitefish led 32-22 at half. Ronan outscored Whitefish 27-24 in the second half.
It was the final game for seniors Lunceford, Gatch and McCrea.
State A first round
Hardin 66, Ronan 38
Hardin 14 14 16 22 – 66
Ronan 5 5 11 17 – 38
HARDIN – Nevaheh Alden 14 (8r), Kylee OldElk 12 (4a), Breanna OldElk 11 (6s), Aiyanna BigMan 9 (10r), Kamber GoodLuck 6, Dierra TakesEnemy 5, Lexis Hogan 4, Alyssa PrettyWeasel 2, Katerena Morrisson 2, Evelyn OldCoyote 1. 25 11-24 66 (49r,14a,16s,1b)
RONAN – Jaylea Lunceford 3 1-3 7( 4r,1a,3s,2b), Ari Burke 2 0-0 6 (3r,2a), Jaeleigh Gatch 1 4-8 6 (2r,1a,1s), Margaret Cordova 2 1-1 6 (4r,1s), Leina Ulutoa 2 1-4 5 (6r,1a), LaReina Cordova 2 0-2 4 (2r,2a,1s,1b), Dani Coffman 1 1-2 3 (2r,1a,1s,1b,4d), Olivia Heiner 1 (1a,1s), Madeline McCrea (6r,1a,1s,1d), Haylie Webster 0 0-4 0 (1r), Adri Tatukivei (1r,1a). 13 9-26 38 (33r,11a,9s,4b)
State A loser-out
Whitefish 56, Ronan 49
Whitefish 14 18 11 13 – 56
Ronan 12 10 10 17 – 49
WHITEFISH – Brook Smith 7 7-9 21 (10r,1b), Gracie Smyley 3 4-4 12 (4r,1a,2s), Mikenna Ells 2 4-5 9 (4r,6a,1b), Jadi Walburn 3 2-2 8 (11r,2a,2s), Ashton Ramsey 0 3-4 3 (1r,5a,1s,1b), Jenny Patten 3, Erin Wilde 0 (1a), Taylor Means 0. 16 20-24 56 (30r,15a,5s,2b)
RONAN – Jaeleigh Gatch 3 9-10 15 (1r,1a,1s), Ari Burke 4 0-0 12 (2r,1a), Jaylea Lunceford 3 4-4 10 (8r,7a,1s,1b), Dani Coffman 3 0-0 6 (2r,3a,3s), Olivia Heiner 1 1-2 3 (2r,1a,2s), LaReina Cordova 2 (4r,1a,2s,1b), Haylie Webster 1 (1r), Leina Ulutoa 0 0-2 0 (4r,1s,2b), Margaret Cordova 0 0-2 0 (1r), Madeline McCrea 0 (). 15 15-22 49 (28r,13a,9s,4b)