Polson, Ronan boys split games at Frenchtown tip-off
By BRANDON HANSEN For the Leader | Lake County Leader | UPDATED 2 hours, 28 minutes AGO
Ronan Chief Matiya Nememay fights a Frenchtown Bronc for the ball during the Frenchtown tournament. (Seth Anderson Photo)
Polson and Ronan boys basketball teams opened the season last weekend at the NWA/SWA Tip-Off Tournament in Frenchtown, with both Lake County programs splitting their two games.
Polson went 1–1 at the tournament, opening with a convincing 65–35 win over Stevensville before falling to Fergus, 73–49.
In the win over Stevensville, Malakai Curley led all scorers with 23 points, knocking down two 3-pointers as the Pirates steadily pulled away in each quarter. Kyson Michel added nine points, while Ama OldShoes scored eight. Polson built a 15–10 lead after the first quarter and pulled further away in each of the final three periods.
Polson’s second game saw the Pirates matched against an experienced Fergus squad. Kyson Michel led Polson with 14 points, while Bird added 13. Fergus jumped out to a 21–8 first-quarter lead and connected on 11 3-pointers in the game, led by Kason Brown’s 23 points.
Ronan also finished 1–1 at the tournament, earning a 65–56 win over host Frenchtown before falling 61–53 to Hamilton.
Against Frenchtown, the Chiefs used a strong second quarter to turn the momentum. After trailing 19–14 at the end of the first, Ronan held Frenchtown to just three points in the second quarter and never trailed again. Kolby Finley posted a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Jhett McDonald also scored 21 points and surpassed the 200-point mark for his varsity career during the game. Matiya Nenemay added 15 points, and Siouxpixm Qualtier filled the stat sheet with eight assists and five steals. Ronan knocked down 12 3-pointers in the win.
In its opener against Hamilton, Ronan built a 17–7 first-quarter lead but was outscored by 16 points in the second half, falling 61–53. Finley led the Chiefs with 18 points and 10 rebounds, recording another double-double, while Nenemay scored 15 points. McDonald finished with 12 points, and Qualtier added eight.
Hamilton was led by Jake McCarthy’s 20 points and controlled the free-throw line, shooting 15-of-25 from the stripe.