Ronan Hall of Fame: 1992 State Champion Maiden Basketball Team

The Ronan Hall of Fame will have an induction celebration on Feb. 1 at the Ronan Community Center. Profiles of this year’s honorees begin with the 1992 State Champion Maiden Basketball Team, named “Distinguished Team” by the selection committee.

Despite returning four starters from their 1991 squad, rival coaches picked Ronan to finish conference play in fourth place in their pre-season power poll. The forecast was quickly proven wrong as the Maidens raced out to a 13-1 record before losing two of their last three conference tilts.

Although no conference champion was crowned that season, Ronan’s 15-3 record was the best in the seven-team conference and earned the team a first-round bye in the Divisional Tournament. As the wins piled up during the regular season, the Maidens climbed to no. 2 in the AP Power Poll before finishing the season in the no. 4 position.

Forward Angela Sheumaker led the Western A in scoring with a 17.5 per game scoring average. She also established a new single game scoring record with 36 points against St. Ignatius.

After knocking off Stevensville in the Divisional Tournament semi-finals, disaster struck as a fourth quarter scoring drought allowed Columbia Falls to capture the title with a 37-32 win over the Maidens.

Ronan’s appearance in the State Finals in Whitefish was the school’s first in eight years. The Maidens drew Browning in their first-round game and prevailed 49-39 after trailing 17-13 at halftime. Sheumaker had 26 points to lead Ronan.

Ronan’s win set up a semi-final bout with Hardin, the no. 3 ranked team in the State. The contest lived up to its billing. A 34-point first half put the Maidens up by 12 points, but a second half charge by the Lady Bulldogs quickly erased the Ronan advantage. Stephanie Irvine’s free throw with 28 seconds left to play provided the winning margin for Ronan, 62-61.

The title clash with Colstrip had none of the drama of the previous night’s battle with Hardin. Ronan’s defense shut down the Fillies’ offense and the Maidens rolled to a 48-39 win, securing the only State title in school history.

Team members included: Jami Jackson, Steph and Carol Irvine, Angela Sheumaker, Megan Tameler, Heather Grainey, Tricia and Autumn Desjarlais, Naomi Cook, Misty Chief Stick, Stormy Cheff, and Jodi Horner. Niki Webster and Kari Bartel served as team managers.

Head coach Gale Decker had been to the State Tournament previously in 1978 with a Maiden team, while assistants Kris (Schmitt) Salonen and Janell (Espinoza) Garrison had been members of State Championship teams at Great Falls High School and Arlee, respectively.