by John Heglie

 

At C.M. Russell gym in Great Falls, the Ronan Chiefs and the Polson Pirates 
squared off for the rubber match of their Rez roundball rivalry wrangle in a 
loser out, winner advances to consolation play for either place or plaque. The 
Chiefs capitalized upon a sluggish Pirate start by vaulting out to an 8-1 lead 
before the Polson offensive machinery began to stir with some life.

The Pirates closed the gap, but still trailed by two possessions entering 
the final frame when a Jarrett Wilson deuce and one closed Polson to within a 
point, then overtook the lead on a pair of Xavier Fisher free throws off a 
technical foul on Ronan. Pirate Colton Graham would net two more charity stripe 
offerings followed by a Trevor Lake deuce that gave Polson a five point edge 
30-35.

The Chiefs would close the gap, then reacquire the lead on a Rube Couture 
deuce 36-35. The Pirates had multiple chances to counter, but a wascally wabbit 
bunny refused to hop down the hole and back-to-back open triples clanked off the 
rim. Chief Elijah Tonasket would add a free throw, while Pirate Graham would net 
two from the charity stripe and the contest would go down to the wire tied at 37 
apiece with 38 seconds remaining. Chief Ruben Couture would net the front end of 
a pair of free throws to give Ronan a precarious advantage. The Pirates would 
make a play for the game winner, but couldn't connect at the other end.

Ronan advances to play in the consolation for third or fourth in a rematch 
of the first round against the Laurel Locomotives.

 

Ronan 38, Polson 37 (lo)

(3W) Ronan (14-8), (2W) Polson (16-4) 

Ronan   9 13   8   8 – 38

Polson  8   6 12 11 – 37

RONAN – Girma Detwiler 2 6-13 10(11r,1a,6b), Marlo Tonasket 2 1-2 6(5r), 
Ruben Couture 1 3-5 5(4r,1a,1s), Zarec Couture 2 0-0 5(8r,2a), Sage Coffman 1 
2-2 5(), Leonard 3(3r,2a,2s), Elijah Tonasket 2(3r,3s), Payton Cates 2(1r,1s). 
10 14-26 38 (41r,6a,7s,6b)

POLSON – Colton Graham 2 5-6 10(10r,1a,2s), Jarrett Wilson 2 3-3 
7(7r,1a,6s), Darian Williams 3 0-1 7(1s), Braunson Henriksen 0 6-6 6(2r,1s,1b), 
Xavier Fisher 1 3-5 5(1r,3s), Trevor Lake 2, *Alex Muzquiz 0 0-2 0, Trent Wilson 
(1r,2s), Sam Fisher (1s). 9 18-25 37 (26r,2a,16s,2b)

3FGs – R4-16 (S.Coffman 1-1, Z.Couture 1-3, M.Tonasket 1-3, L.Burke 1-8), 
P2-19 (Graham 1-3, Williams 1-7). (Sa06Mar21gm10st) at CMR

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data exists - Muzquiz 
(KERR:0-2FT =37p, venue:1-3FT =38p tie)

Expanded stats courtesy of venue coverage. Some details may vary from team 
sideline specs.