Rematches, especially on the road, are tough to overcome and

despite falling in both of theirs last week, the Ronan Chiefs had

positives to draw upon.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Chiefs got 16 points from Robbie "Le

Bourreau" Gauthier and eight from Carston Baertsch, but were unable

to bounce back from a tough third quarter, losing 58-47 at

Florence.

Rematches, especially on the road, are tough to overcome and despite falling in both of theirs last week, the Ronan Chiefs had positives to draw upon.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Chiefs got 16 points from Robbie "Le Bourreau" Gauthier and eight from Carston Baertsch, but were unable to bounce back from a tough third quarter, losing 58-47 at Florence.

Ronan led by two points after the first quarter and only trailed 25-24 at halftime.

"We hit some shots," Ronan head coach Steve Woll said. "When we hit shots, we can get into our defense and gain confidence."

The Falcons began pulling away in the third quarter, outscoring the Chiefs 16-8 to take a 41-32 lead. Ronan would score 15 fourth-quarter points, their highest scoring quarter of the game, but Florence kept pace to earn the win.

Edmond Dupuis scored seven points, but Florence was able to keep Marcus Hungerford and Marley Tanner in check, holding each of them to four. Brady Oakland was also slowed down by the Falcons, scoring two, along with Daniel Aylesworth.

Robert Faoa added the final point for the Chiefs' offense.

On Saturday, three Ronan players scored in double figures, but another third quarter plagued the Chiefs in a 73-53 defeat at Eureka.

Oakland bounced back from his game against Florence to pace Ronan with 13 points, while Hungerford and Dupuis each notched 11.

The Chiefs fell behind in a high-scoring first quarter 22-14, but responded nicely in the second, outscoring Eureka 18-11 to trail again by one, 33-32.

"We stepped up our defense in the second quarter, made some shots and got into transition," Woll said. "We were down one at halftime, hit a three to start the third quarter, but then Eureka went on a 24-5 run."

The run put Ronan in a 57-40 hole that they couldn't quite dig out of as they fell to 5-6 on the season. Zach Wagner scored six points and Baertsch five for the Chiefs, while Gauthier, Aylesworth and Jalen Bell each added two and Tanner one in the loss.

Ronan will look to bounce back with matchups against Polson, Hamilton and Loyola this week.

"We need to worry about doing what we do best," Woll said. "We need to make our free throws and execute."

EUREKA 73, RONAN 53

Ronan - 14 - 18 - 8 - 13 - 53

Eureka - 22 - 11 - 24 - 16 - 73

Chiefs scoring - Jalen Bell 2, Carston Baertsch 5, Robbie Gauthier 2, Edmond Dupuis 11, Marcus Hungerford 11, Zachary Wagner 6, Marley Tanner 1, Brady Oakland 13, Daniel Aylesworth 2

FLORENCE 58, RONAN 47

Ronan - 13 - 11 - 8 - 15 - 47

Florence - 11 - 14 - 16 - 17 - 58

Chiefs scoring - Marcus Hungerford 4, Robbie Gauthier 16, Robert Faoa 1, Marley Tanner 4, Brady Oakland 2, Carston Baertsch 8, Edmond Dupuis 7, Daniel Aylesworth 2