Ronan Chiefs overcome doubt to punch State A ticket

From outside Hamilton High School, a shuddering motion took hold of the nearby sidewalks as people funneled in through a side entrance of the school. Adults and students from different towns across western Montana flocked to watch the Western A Divisional Tournament championship game. 

However, instead of seeing the local Hamilton Broncs, they saw the Ronan Chiefs, a team that just over four months ago had no expectations entering the season.

Ronan head coach George Sherwood paced throughout a tight game against the two-time reigning state Class A champion Dillon Beavers.

But, just being there was more than some had expected. The Chiefs entered the season unranked and unheralded as a team that could compete among the best in even their own division.

For Sherwood and his team, that never mattered.

“ I don't think a lot of people outside of our locker room had high expectations for this team, but I see how hard they work in the off-season, how hard they work for me in practice and just buying into the things that I ask them to do,” Sherwood said. “I couldn't be more proud of them. They deserve a stage like this and I'm so glad that that big crowd's gonna come and watch my kids perform.”

On a stage against the defending champs, the result felt like a blessing. They were guaranteed a trip to the state tournament after beating Butte Central 58-51.

Whatever the result, the Chiefs were locked in for a mid-March trip to ExpoPark in Great Falls.

The only thing is that it did matter. The divisional fight wasn’t just a participation trophy for this team. It was another accolade to attach to a team bound for more.

However, as the game clock slowly ticked down, Ronan found themselves in a massive hole late in the game. It was evident that Dillon had been there before. Winning had come easier to them than some, making that 59-45 loss that much more bitter for the Chiefs.

As the Chiefs walked to center court to hold up their second place trophy, it was easy to see that this was not the expectation. A team that at one point had no expectations was one that had only one standard: excellence.

Ronan senior Jhett McDonald marched out of the lockerroom carrying that second-place plaque with teary eyes and a frown. There was no satisfaction for a loss like that. The same team that no one expected to be great took a loss like this one as an anomaly.

Now, a team that is renewed in the face of defeat has their toughest challenge ahead. A three-and-a-half-hour drive to Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls could help set up the Chiefs for the redemption they believe they need.

Who is in their way? The 20-2 Lockwood Lions.

Their opponent isn’t just a team sneaking into the tournament. The Lions have been perennial state tournament competitors. This year alone, the Lions have knocked off Class AA opponent Billings Skyview and even bested the same Dillon Beavers that beat Ronan by double digits.

“ I think it's gonna be a big game, man,” Ronan senior Kolby Finley said. “They were number two all year in the state in Class A. They were beating up on AA teams whenever they could,  so I think just preparing ourselves for the time that we have at home and then going in and doing our best, as best we can up there.”

However, the Chiefs aren’t a team that falls easily. They come into the tournament at 17-4 with just one loss spanning across a month and a half.

Ronan has also beaten a Class AA opponent of their own when taking down Kalispell Flathead 65-55 back on Jan. 26.

The Chiefs have even made runs in the postseason as recently as last year, when they made it to the third place game, losing to Billings Central. 

This isn’t a team that gets defeated easily. It isn’t a team that loses to the same opponent twice. If they win, they’ll play either Butte Central or Billings Central. Either way, it is either a divisional rematch or a state rematch.

The Chiefs weren’t destined for anything. They weren’t expected to make the run they did. No rankings and no fanfare meant no idea of what to expect from this team. 

It was never about proving it to other people. It was never about being the best in the state. They knew before the season started that if they played for each other, they’d be just fine.

“ I just felt so amazing coming into this season,” Ronan junior Matiya Nenemay said. “We knew we were gonna be a problem and we felt like we never got the respect we deserved."

"Coming into this (divisional) tournament, we knew that we were gonna have to play our butts off to get that respect," he added. "And I think now that we're playing in these big-time games, people are gonna start respecting us.”