Ronan Chiefs, Maidens advance

by Daily Inter Lake
| February 18, 2024 12:00 AM

RONAN — Marlo Tonasket’s big fourth quarter pushed Ronan into divisionals Saturday — he scored all of his 14 points as the Chiefs pulled away to beat Whitefish 52-35 in a Western A boys basketball play-in game.

Later in Polson, Ronan's Maidens made a 27-12 halftime lead hold up for a 46-36 victory.

Ted Coffman hit three 3-pointers for nine points for Ronan (12-8); he hit two as the Chiefs pulled away from a 32-29 lead after three quarters. The Chiefs will face Hamilton in a first round game Thursday in Butte.

Kolby Finley added another two 3-pointers and the Chiefs hit eight overall.

Mason Genovese and Mason Kelch each hit two threes and scored 10 points for the Bulldogs, who ended up 11-9.

Whitefish 7 12 10 6 - 35

Ronan 12 6 14 20 - 52

WHITEFISH — Carson Gulick 8, Mason Genovese 10, CJ Thew 2, Carson Krack 4, Mason Kelch 10, Scotty Dalen 1.

RONAN — Ted Coffman 9, Marlo Tonasket 14, Josiah Misa 3, Tayen Edmo 2, Kolby FInley 8, Laurance Lozeau 6, DaVonne Curley 4.

Ronan Maidens 46, Polson Lady Pirates 36

POLSON — Kailyn Marengo scored 21 points, including 8 of 11 from the free throw line, and Ronan picked up a 46-36 victory over Polson in Western A play-in game action Saturday.

McKenna Hanson scored 12 points to lead the Pirates, who outscored Ronan 24-19 in the second half. Polson ended up 10-10.

Arianna Zepeda added nine points for the Maidens (8-12.

Ronan advances to the Western A divisional with the win, which starts Thursday in Butte.

Ronan 10 17 2 17 - 46

Polson 9 3 6 18 - 36

RONAN — Maddie Illig 5, Lauryn Buhr 4, Arianna Zepeda 9, Zailee Hewankorn 1, Kailyn Marengo 21, Neveah Perez 6.

POLSON — Julia Barnard 5, Rylee Taylor-Jefferson 6, Samantha Rensvold 4, Aleysia Black 2, McKenna Hanson 12, Hinkley Moss 3, Ahri Rushing 4.

Western A Divisional

Saturday Play-in Games

BOYS

Ronan 52, Whitefish 35

Frenchtown 69, Corvallis 61

Feb. 22-24, Butte

Thursday

Dillon (14-4) vs. Columbia Falls (12-6), 9 a.m.

Hamilton (16-2) vs. Ronan (12-8), 10:30 a.m.

Bigfork (9-9) vs. Butte Central (15-3), 3:30 p.m.

Browning (14-4) vs. Frenchtown (14-6), 5 p.m.

GIRLS

Saturday Play-In Games

Ronan 46, Polson 26

Corvallis 43, Stevensville 40

Feb. 22-24 in Butte

Thursday

Browning (13-5) vs. Hamilton (10-8) , noon

Frenchtown (17-1) vs. Ronan (8-12), 1:30 p.m.

Dillon (15-3) vs. Columbia Falls (9-9), 6:30 p.m.

Bigfork (17-1) vs. Corvallis (6-13)