Revving up for reprise renditions of Rez roundball rivalry wrangles with Ronan

by John Heglie

 

Boys: Pirates at Chiefs varsity 3pm on Saturday, February 01, 2025 at Ronan Events Center

Polson Frosh/JV at Ronan Frosh/JV 12pm/1:30pm on Saturday, February 01, 2025 at Ronan Events Center

 

Due to irregularities of winter weather patterns upon road conditions, spectators interested in attending this event should doublecheck postings from the venue to confirm whether the event will commence as scheduled.

 

2025 wrangle round one : Pirates at Chiefs

Polson Pirates (3-1, 6-4) pending outcome against C-Falls

When the 2022-23 Pirates (7-13) graduated seven key contributors who accounted for over three-quarters of team point productivity, their departure impacted last season's 2023-24 rendition of the Polson roster (2-17) to a rebuilding phase that accounted for the pair of double digit deficits incurred (R73-56P/R44-32P).

Embarking upon the final month of the regulation schedule, the current rendition of the Pirate 2024-25 roster features a pair of seasonal century club contributor in sophomore 6-4 Malakai Curley and senior 6-2 Cason Graham, who have both delved into the domain of double digits on multiple occasions this season. Curley's best outing thus far featured a career high 29, while Graham has turned in a season best 21. The most prolific rebounder for the Pirates has been junior Cody Haggard, who is on pace to accrue century club credentials by the end of the season, followed closely by Curley, Graham, Maddox Bird and Holden Emerson as other lead rebounders. Those most adept at serving up delectable dishes by dispensing assists have been Curley, frosh guard Kyson Michel, senior guard Jesse Vail, followed by Graham, the quartet having combined for over a hundred assists on the season thus far.

The same comparable cast of culprits have also been the most adept a picking opponent pockets of prized possessions, with Bird along with junior Shaedon Perry also contributing in a collective collaboration of a combined twelve dozen steals.

Other supplemental reserves include Dion Lichtenberg, Cole Wadsworth, Justus Rushing, Brayson DuMont, Jarrett Seifert, Ryan Lake and Darrin Hewankorn.

 

Ronan Chiefs (3-1, 7-3) pending outcome against Bigfork

The preceding 2023-24 rendition of the roster of the Chiefs (12-10) graduated a handful of key contributors that accounted for just over half of their point productivity last season. But among returnees are a trio of century club contributors last season that include twice all-conference (2nd-tm 23-24, hm 22-23) junior Kolby Finley, a double D dangerous guard to either drive or dish when the ball is in his possession. Another returnee who tends to give opponents a double dose of L on both sides of the court is junior Lawrence Lozeau, who crested the century point plateau for season scoring by the midpoint of the season. Infusing this one-two punch of the Chiefs are five other returnees on pace to acquire century club credentials for scoring by the end of the season that include senior guards Tayen Edmo as well as Wade Qualtier, senior forward/post Sean Small, senior post Chad Higgins and junior Jhett McDonald. The most proficient at reeling in rebounds have been Finley and Higgins, who have already collaborated on over a hundred at this juncture of the season, followed by Small and Lozeau. The quartet of Finley, Edmo, Lozeau and Wade Qualtier have combined for over a hundred assists on the season thus far.Lozeau and Wade Qualtier have been the most proficient when it comes to picking pockets of prized possessions with both closing in on two dozen steals apiece. Edmo, Finley and Small have pinched  pockets for possessions among the mid- to high teens entering the rivalry wrangle.

Further supplemental reserves include Teddy SpottedEagle, Connor Durglo, Siouxpixm Qualtier, Trey Samsel and Tryance Matt.

 

The Chiefs have been averaging in the vicinity of 65 points per game, whereas the Pirates have been averaging in the vicinity of 56 points per game. The two county rivals share losses in common to both Hamilton along with Browning, while sharing victories over Libby and Whitefish. The rematch round will take place in Polson on February 22nd.

 

Spanning the past decade of rivalry wrangles, the Pirates hold an 18-7 advantage. But that apparent disparity doesn't reflect that half of those contests were decided by ten points or less, five of which were decided by two possessions or less. If one expands the comparison another five seasons to entail the past decade and a half, seven outcomes have been separate by a single possession among which there have been three overtimes.

Two years ago the Pirates were laden with seasoned veterans, whereas this time around the Chiefs feature a wider array of players with substantial varsity-caliber exposure. Given the nature of this rivalry wrangle on the Rez, the prognosis is for a more tighter contest than was the case last season. .

 

A sampling of Rez roundball rivalry wrangles:

(Sa06Mar2021gm10st) Ronan 38, Polson 37 at C.M. Russell gym in Great Falls, State A consolation loser out

After being swept in their regulation schedule series, the Chiefs extracted their revenge on the biggest stage when Ruben Couture would net the front end of a pair of free throws to advance Ronan another round. A low scoring affair by rivalry wrangle standards, Pirate Colton Graham and Chief Girma Detwiler each scored ten.

(Fr05Jan2018) Polson 77, Ronan 75 (2OT) at SKC Gym in Pablo,

Zeke Misa scored 27, Anthony Camel 22 for the Chiefs. Pirates countered with 28 from Connor Lanier, with Robin Erickson tallying 16 along with Shade Main scoring 15.

(Sa03Jan2015) Ronan 55, Polson 53 (OT) at old Linderman Gym in Polson

Cedric Earthboy converted a layup with about five seconds remaining to send the contest into the extra period. Earthboy followed with further heroics by scoring all of Ronan's points in the overtime period with three deuces along with a quartet from the charity stripe. Earthboy and Jeremiah North Piegan both scored 19 for the Chiefs, while Matt Rensvold tallied 17 along with 14 from Tanner Wilson for the Pirates.

(Fr21Dec2012) Ronan 29, Polson 28 at old Linderman Gym in Polson

The lowest scoring rivalry wrangle among the series of recent vintage. Trailing 27-25, Pirate Hayden Congdon launched a good look triple attempt that was reluctant to acquire its target. Cedrick Smith recovered the ball after the miss, would be fouled, but the trip the the charity stripe would come up empty with less than 20 seconds remaining. Chief Zack Wagner reeled in the rebound, was fouled and sank both free-throws to give Ronan a 29-25 lead with just over a dozen seconds remaining. Pirate Derek Peel would convert an open look three to pull within one, but Polson was unable to pick any pockets for a pilfer to give themselves another possession. No players would score among double figures. The Chiefs as well as the Pirates would be paced by guards Tim Woll and Smith, each with 9. Pirate post Riley Sampson reeled in ten rebounds.

(06Feb2009) Ronan 47, Polson 44 at Ronan Events Center

A deuce by Chief Mike Fisher with less than 20 seconds remaining gave Ronan the lead. The Pirates attempted to tie with a triple attempt in the waning seconds, but were unable to connect. Fisher scored eight of his 15 points in the final frame, including 4-5 from the charity stripe, while teammate Jay Sorrell pitched in 11. The Pirates were paced by Craig Bagnell with 15 and Louis Mohr with 10.

(Fr09Jan2009) Polson 50, Ronan 48 at old Linderman Gym in Polson

Ryan Kelley provided the margin of victory with a 10-foot jumper with 15 seconds remaining. For the Pirates, Kyle Bagnell led all scorers with 15, while Tim Rausch and Waylon Michel both tallied 11. The Chiefs placed a trio in double figures: Dallas Cordier 13, Kyle Hendrickx 11, Nolan Harris 10.

(Th25Jan2007) Ronan 65, Polson 55 at old Linderman Gym in Polson

The biggest single player scoring extravaganza of recent vintage among rivalry wrangles. Ronan sophomores Mike Fisher and Nolan Harris combined to dial the operator long distance and complete the call from beyond the arc for ten triples. Harris scored 31 points and almost seemed unconscious launching from long distance as he splashed 8-12 treys, perhaps partially due to a special scoring dispensation on account of the game taking place on his birthday.

2024-25 oponents in common (2024-25): Hamilton (H63-43P/H57-55R), Browning (B55-46P/B64-53R), Libby (P66-50L/R74-41L), Whitefish (P66-55W/R61-48W)

Boys career highs:

POLSON – Malakai Curley 29, Cason Graham 22, Jesse Vail 17, Cody Haggard 13

RONAN – Kolby Finley 23, Laurance Lozeau 19, Tayen Edmo 18, Sean Small 14,

Returnee preceding season scoring:

Wtr2023-24bbb Pirates (877p,545r,177a,157s,28b) 2-17; 2022-23bbb Pirates (1150p,696r,219a,175s,24b) 7-13

returnees:  Cason Graham (185p,91r,33a,20s,6b), Jesse Vail (95p,36r,21a,26s,2b), Maddox Bird (76p,59r,16a,19s,2b), Cody Haggard (15p,27r,4a,2s), Dion Lichtenberg (2p,1s).

Wtr2023-24bbb Ronan Chiefs (1195p,654r,294a,176s,71b) (12-10); Wtr2022-23 Chiefs (6-13)

returnees:  Kolby Finley (206p,90r,55a,20s,5b), Sean Small (122p,89r,7a,20s,12b), Laurance Lozeau (101p,58r,37a,26s,4b), Tayen Edmo (93p,50r,38a,14s,2b), Wade Qualtier (65p,41r,25a,26s,7b), Trey Samsel (14p,5r,1a,1b), Jhett McDonald (12p,6r,3s), Ted SpottedEagle (7p,4r,1s), Connor Durglo (6p,4r,2a,1s), Chad Higgins (2p,10r,2b).

Accrued athletic accolade acknowledgements

POLSON: Cason Graham (BB state champion 2023), Maddox Bird (BSC 2x a-c 1st-tm), Cody Haggard (FB a-c hm DE 2024; BB State A champion 2023, LegionA a-c hm 2024), Holden Emerson (FB a-c hm QB 2024; RONAN: Laurance Lozeau (FB a-s, 3x a-c: 1st-tm OLB 2023-24, hm LB 2022/2nd-tm WR-TE 2023); Kolby Finley (BBB 2x a-c: 2nd-tm 23-24, hm 22-23; FB a-c 1st-tm S 2024/2x a-c QB: 2nd-tm 2024, hm 2023; TF div pv 9th); Connor Durglo (TF div tj 2nd, 4x400 6th), Wade Qualtier (TF div: 300H 6th 2024; 4x400: 3rd 2024, 6th 2023), Tayen Edmo (TF div 4x400: 3rd 2024, 6th 2023; XC div 17th 2024), Connor Durglo (TF div 2024: 4x400 3rd, tj 4th, lj 6th), Siouxpixm Qualtier (TF div pv 4th 2024)

 

Rez roundball rivalry wrangle boys history

(Sa10Feb24) R44-32P, (Tu16Jan24) R73-56P;

(Sa11Feb23) P49-45R, (Sa14Jan23) P61-55R;

(Fr04Feb22) P56-47R, (Fr07Jan22) P56-35R;

(Sa06Mar21gm10st) R38-37P, (Sa20Feb21) P51-43R, (Fr29Jan21) P62-40R;

(Fr28Feb20gm9div) P65-55R, (Fr31Jan20) P63-46R, (Fr10Jan20) P63-48R;

(Fr25Jan19) P59-50R, (Fr04Jan19) P60-47R;

(Sa17Feb18gm16nwa) P63-51R, (Fr26Jan18) P62-49R, (Fr05Jan18) P77-75R 2OT;

(Tu20Dec16) P62-51R;

(Tu02Feb16) P79-43R;

(Th12Feb15) P46-36R, (Sa03Jan15) OT:R55-53P;

(Fr03Jan14) P51-37R;

(Fr21Dec12) R29-28P; [MaxP]

(Tu24Jan12) P54-41R [MaxP]

(04Feb11) P69-59R, (07Jan11) P74-61R [MaxP]

(M01Mar10NWAchallenge) P54-38R, (Sa20Feb10) P88-50R, (05Feb10) resched?, (05Jan10) P51-45R

(06Feb09) R47-44P, (09Jan09) P50-48R

(31Jan08) P52-46R, (04Jan08) OT:P64-62R

(25Jan07) R65-55P, (19Dec06) R61-42P

(11Feb06) P76-35R, (20Dec05) P59-43R