RONAN — After a slow first half, the Ronan and Polson boys’ basketball teams both brought more intensity to the court in the second half of last Tuesday’s game.

The Pirates edged the Chiefs 54-45 in the end.

This was the second loss for Ronan in two games.

The Chiefs lost to Whitefish 59-39 last Saturday.

Against Whitefish, Ronan overcame a 15-4 first quarter to score 12 in the second. Whitefish continued to pour it on, outscoring Ronan 30-22 in the second half.

Junior Jarod Tanner and senior Justin Dusty Bull each scored 12 points and junior Kevin Wroblewski added nine against the Bulldogs. 

On Tuesday at the half, Polson was up by two points. Ronan came away with the first shot of the half, but Polson senior Derrick Rathe used his size to grab the rebound. Ronan junior Lucas Black tried to get it to Wroblewski but Polson junior Kyle Bagnell came away with the steal. Bagnell dished it to Polson senior Tim Rausch, who went down the court for an easy lay up. He was fouled on the play and sunk two at the line to make it 33-27, in favor of Polson.

Ronan’s Tanner got the ball, but Bagnell once again stole it but Polson couldn’t convert the points. He was fouled by Black and went two-for-two at the line.

The Chief’s Dusty Bull went for a three-pointer, but Polson sophomore Tyler Krell was there for the defensive rebound. He threw it up to Rausch, who scored on an easy lay up.

With possession of the ball on the next play, Ronan worked the perimeter looking for a shot. Black found an open lane as Tanner blocked for him, putting in Ronan’s first points of the half.

Polson’s Bagnell responded with two quick points at the other end before Black got a defensive rebound and passed it up court to Ronan sophomore Marcus Hungerford, who put it in for two points and a 31-39 score.

Ronan senior Colten Cheff was unable to bring the Chiefs closer when he was sent to the line before Polson freshman Zack Camel was fouled. On the next play, Camel found Bagnell open at the line, who sunk the ball for three points at the end of the third quarter.

Three minutes into the final mark of the game, Polson sophomore Cody Fischer went one-for-two at the line for the first basket of the quarter.

Rausch continued the scoring for Polson when he drove to the hoop for two more points.

Ronan countered when junior Gordon North Pigeon III put in two.

Hustling down the court, Krell took a shot inside the paint and Bagnell grabbed the rebound for two.

Ronan countered again for a 35-47 score as Black put a rebound away to bring the Chiefs within 10.

Krell was sent to the line, but didn’t extend the lead before Tanner went to the line and sunk two.

Bagnell intercepted the ball, went up court for a lay up and was fouled. He sunk his only shot.

After some scuffles at mid-court, Dusty Bull had time and sunk a three-pointer.

Rausch was fouled on the next play and sunk two more for another ten-point Pirate lead.

Wroblewski countered with another Ronan three-pointer before Dusty Bull was unable to put any more points on the board for the Chiefs at the line.

Ronan tried to get another shot but Rathe and Krell used their height to secure the ball.

Entering the game, Polson was on a high. The Pirates surpassed their usual numbers in a 75-70 win over Stevensville.

Head coach Brad Pluff said his team averages about 60 points per game and shoots the ball in the high 30’s percentage-wise.

This time, they shot 52 percent from the floor.

Individually, junior Kyle Bagnell also surpassed his usual numbers.

Bagnell had a career night with 30 points, 14 coming in the third quarter. He drained six 3-point shots, four in the third quarter.

“He shot the ball really well all night,” Pluff said. “He went

After the first quarter, Polson led 23-19 and increased that lead to seven at the half.

In the third quarter, that lead was pushed to 20.

“We got the momentum,” Pluff said.

However, Stevensville wasn’t going to sit back and let Polson win. The Yellow Jackets went on a 34-point fourth-quarter run, led by Josh Schultz, who ended the game with 30 points. He had six three-pointers in the fourth, for a game total of eight.

“Most teams don’t get eight in a game,” Pluff said. “Let alone have one kid hit eight.”

Pluff said the Pirates didn’t match Stevensville in the fourth but the Yellow Jackets didn’t get any inside points due to Polson sophomore Tyler Krell.

“He’s such a big kid,” Pluff said. “He has height. We count on him for inside points and defense.”

Six-foot-five Krell is joined by six-foot-three senior Derrick Rathe inside.

“Both rebound really well,” Pluff said.

Krell ended with eight points and Rathe added five points.

Against Ronan on Tuesday, Pluff said he expects an exciting game.

“They play an up tempo style,” he said.

Up next, the Pirates host Glacier on Saturday.

“Our goal is to get better every week,” Pluff said. “We have a lot of young kids. We are still learning a new system. Hopefully, by tournament time, we will be there.”