ST. IGNATIUS - Up and down throughout the season's first month,

the Ronan Chiefs are starting to get hot. That could be bad news

for the rest of their Class B competition.

In two games last week, the Chiefs posted two wins, running

their win streak to three and their record to 5-4, the first time

they've been over the .500 mark on the year.

ST. IGNATIUS - Up and down throughout the season's first month, the Ronan Chiefs are starting to get hot. That could be bad news for the rest of their Class B competition.

In two games last week, the Chiefs posted two wins, running their win streak to three and their record to 5-4, the first time they've been over the .500 mark on the year.

On Thursday, Jan. 12, Ronan headed south to St. Ignatius and held off a furious rally by the Mission Bulldogs to earn a 48-43 victory. Exactly one week prior to that game, the Chiefs fell to Deer Lodge after holding a 22-point first-half lead.

"We called a timeout and talked about that," Ronan head coach Steve Woll said. "The difference this time was that we played to win and not to lose. We learned from that game."

After being tied at 11 after the first quarter, the Chiefs outscored the hosts 12-3 in the second to build a nine-point halftime lead. Ronan came out on fire in the third quarter, using a 10-2 run to build a 33-16 lead, but Mission battled back over the remainder of the third and the early part of the fourth to make it a 42-39 game before Ronan staved off the rally to earn the win.

The Chiefs were led by Brady Oakland's 14 points, Robbie "Le Bourreau" Gauthier's 11 and Marcus Hungerford's 10, but, as per usual, Ronan got scoring from starters and bench players alike. Edmond Dupuis with six, Robert Faoa and Carston Baertsch with three apiece, and Marley Tanner with one, scored for the Chiefs.

The next night, two different Ronan players reached double digits, as the Chiefs used a huge fourth quarter to down Plains 56-34.

Tanner's 14, Hungerford's 11 and Dupuis' 10 led Ronan to their third consecutive win.

"Coming into the season, we weren't experienced," Woll said. "I think they're starting to figure it out. It's a learning experience and if we keep improving, it'll be interesting playing teams the second time around."

Ronan's defense held Plains to just two first-quarter points as the offense helped build a 24-18 halftime lead. Plains was able to keep the deficit at six after three quarters, but a 21-5 fourth-quarter spurt buried the visitors and propelled the Chiefs to their fifth win of the season.

"We rotated a lot of kids, so we were fresher," Woll said. "We wore them down in the fourth and tried to keep the tempo up."

Gauthier added nine points, Faoa eight and Baertsch and Zach Wagner two in the win.

Ronan looks to keep it going this week and Woll said the key to that will be the offense.

"We need to put the ball in the hole," Woll said. "Our defense has come a long way and is still improving. The last couple nights we had looks, but haven't put the ball in the hole, which will come."

RONAN 48, MISSION 43

Ronan - 11 - 12 - 13 - 12 - 48

Mission - 11 - 3 - 13 - 16 - 43

Chiefs scoring - Brady Oakland 14, Robbie Gauthier 11, Marcus Hungerford 10, Edmond Dupuis 6, Robert Faoa 3, Carston Baertsch 3, Marley Tanner 1

RONAN 56, PLAINS 34

Plains - 2 - 16 - 11 - 5 - 34

Ronan - 7 - 17 - 11 - 21 - 56

Chiefs scoring - Marley Tanner 14, Marcus Hungerford 11, Edmond Dupuis 10, Robbie Gauthier 9, Robert Faoa 8, Zach Wagner 2, Carston Baertsch 2