Ballers & Brawlers: Ronan and Polson compete

During last week’s brief break between winter storms, Ronan hosted Polson for the inaugural Ballers and Brawlers, an event that mixed basketball and wrestling Jan. 16 in the Ronan Events Center. Varsity girls clashed at 4 p.m., with Wrestling Senior Night at halftime, and Boys’ and Girls’ Wrestling Duals at 6 p.m. The Pirates and Chiefs competed at 8 p.m. 

"The idea behind it was to create a fun atmosphere for our student-athletes and for our teams to draw a different type of crowd during their competition – basketball people watching wrestling and wrestling people watching basketball – which I think ultimately can help build more community support and respect for the different sports," explains Ronan Activities Director Mitchell Wassam.

The event was also the latest installment in the Battle of the Paddle – a trophy that travels between Polson and Ronan. "Each time we have a competition against each other the winner gets to keep the paddle until the next competition," says Polson Activities Director Sean Dellwo. 

The schools also have a points system and the winner gets to keep the paddle for the summer and add a ring in their color to the handle. This is the third year of the Battle of the Paddle, Dellwo said, and Polson has been the overall winner the first two years. While the points are close, Ronan reclaimed the paddle after Tuesday's contests and will keep it at least until the schools compete again.

"It has been a fun way to rekindle a friendly rivalry between two close and tight-knit communities," adds Wassam. "Many of our student-athletes are friends and compete on the same teams for AAU or Club teams in the summertime, and many of our parents are associated in a lot of ways. It's been a really cool thing."

Lady Pirates pick up rivalry win

It was understandably a close affair in the Polson-Ronan rivalry game on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The Lady Pirates outscored their Northwest A Conference foe by three points in the fourth quarter to come away with the 45-41 win and their second league victory.

Polson’s Julia Barnard, Rylee Taylor-Jefferson, and Aleysia Black each had 12 points, while Maddy Illig’s 10 points led Ronan. Polson shot 9-for-18 from the three-point line, their best shooting performance from that range of the season, including a trio of threes in the final two minutes by Black.

The game was tied 20-20 at halftime, and Polson took a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Scoring increased in the final stanza, compared to the other quarters, and the Lady Pirates were able to fend off their Lake County foe. Ronan led 41-40 before Black hit her fourth trey to give the Pirates the lead.

Fifteen different players from both teams scored in the contest.

POLSON 45, RONAN 41

Polson - 10 - 10 - 10 - 15 - 45

Ronan - 10 - 10 - 9 - 12 - 41

RONAN SCORING - Maddy Illig 10, Ally Luedtke 6, Lauryn Buhr 5, Zailee Hewan Korn 5, Kailyn Morengo 5, Kylee Kelch 4, Neveah Perez 4, Arianna Zepeda 2

POLSON SCORING - Julia Barnard 12, Rylee Taylor-Jefferson 12, Aleysia Black 12, McKenna Hanson 3, Samantha Rensvold 2, Natalie Adams 2, Ahrianna Rushing 2

Chiefs pummel Pirates 

Ronan got off to a big start and didn’t look back in their 73-56 Northwest A Conference victory over their Lake County rival. Twelve different Chiefs scored in the matchup in Ronan’s home gym.

The Chiefs led 23-10 after one quarter and finished off the first half on a 19-7 run for a 42-17 lead at halftime. Polson outscored Ronan by eight points in the second half but couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

Josiah Misa’s 19 points led Ronan, while Kolby Finley notched 14. Polson’s Cason Graham led all scorers with 20 points, and Ezra Fasthorse had 14.

RONAN 73, POLSON 56

Polson - 10 - 7 - 25 - 14 - 56

Ronan - 23 - 19 - 20 - 11 - 73

RONAN SCORING - Josiah Misa 19, Kolby Finley 14, Laurance Lozeau 10, Marlo Tonasket 6, Rayen Edmo 5, Jean Small 5, Ted Coffman 4, Keyan Pretty On Top 3, Trey Samsel 2, Dovann Curley 2, Theo Spotted Eagle 2, Wade Qualtier 1

POLSON SCORING - Cason Graham 20, Ezra Fasthorse 14, Anthony Lichtenberg 8, Brenden Griffin 8, Jesse Vail 3, Brock Henriksen 3

Ronan wins Duals against Polson

Ronan pinned six as the Chiefs defeated the Pirates 70-6 in dual action midway through Ballers and Brawlers. On the girls' side Ronan came away with the 42-30 victory.

The home meet saw plenty of action for the boys, but scoring benefited the Chiefs with four forfeits in weight classes as well.

At 103 pounds, Ronan’s Ian Dillard defeated Logan Clairmont in 1:56, while the Chiefs' Luc Cheff pinned Polson’s Corben Carlson in 1:41 at 113 pounds.

Ronan notched forfeits at 120 and 126 pounds. Polson picked up its first bout win as Max Ramesar pinned Ronan’s Skyler Sias in six minutes.

At 138 pounds, Jairyn Krause notched another win for Ronan with an 18-3 technical fall over Polson’s Ryatt Maley. WilJame Courville also notched a technical fall for the Chiefs, defeating the Pirates’ Daniel O’Roake 17-2 at 145 pounds.

Ronan also posted pins at 152 pounds by Dominique McKay over Polson’s Peter Dupuis in 1:39 and at 160 pounds as Nate Young felled the Pirates' Mason Becker in 1:16.

The Chiefs also picked up a forfeit at 170 pounds and then a pin at 182 pounds by Tristan Fisher over Polson’s Kyrin Doty. Ronan secured its fourth forfeit at 205 pounds and a pin at 285 pounds by Jackson Davis against Polson’s Brody Bulette in 3:37.

Ronan and Polson girls squared off too, with Ronan recording five pins in the match. River Cote pinned Polson’s Ciri Nice at 100 pounds. Ronan’s Amanda Webster also picked up a pin in 24 seconds over Polson’s Sara Cross at 114 pounds. Maiden teammate Katie Dolence picked up a fall over Polson’s Jaycee Wallin at 126 pounds.

At 132 pounds, Ronan’s Juliette Cheff pinned Polson’s Olivia Valentine in 1:34. Brynn Courville notched a pin for the Maidens at 138 pounds against Polson’s Innocent Arnold. Leona Dodson Howe notched a fall at 152 pounds for Ronan, pinning Polson’s Vanessa Wheeler.

Polson had three forfeits and two pins. At 120 pounds, Ariella Mihara notched a pin over Ronan’s Giselle Barron-Valenzuela in 1:48. At 145 pounds, Polson’s Harli Kinney pinned the Maidens’ Lola Schock in 1:12.

    Ronan wrestler Jackson Davis makes a gleeful run down the gauntlet during the wrestling portion of Ballers and Brawlers in Ronan. (Christa Umphrey photo)
  

    Pirate Brock Henriksen goes for a layup against Ronan during last Tuesday's contest. (Bob Gunderson photo)
  

    The Chiefs bested the Pirates during last Tuesday's Ballers and Brawlers event in Ronan. (Christa Umphrey photo)
  

    Polson's Max Ramesar scored Polson's lone win during last Tuesday's Ballers and Brawlers event in Ronan, pinning Ronan’s Skyler Sias in six minutes. (Bob Gunderson photo)
  

    Lady Pirate Natalia Adams goes for a layup against Ronan during last week's Ballers and Brawlers. (Bob Gunderson photo)