Vikings, Valkyries hit hardwood in annual scrimmage

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

Bigfork High School's boys' and girls' basketball programs introduced their 2007-2008 rosters Friday night at the school.

The teams scrimmaged each other — boys versus boys and girls versus girls — during the annual blue and white scrimmage. Parents also received information from the coaches and Activities Director Shannon Smith in order to prepare for the season.

Freshman girls' coach Mandy Williams started the evening with her squad of 12 girls. They were followed by the junior varsity and varsity players, who scrimmaged each other in two eight-minute periods.

"It was nice to have the scrimmage because it always helps to get into a game-like situation," the Vals' head coach Nate Hammond said. "Having a running clock, officials, score, and everything else just helps get us into the game mode."

Everything is by the book during the scrimmages, as players are called for fouls, shoot free throws and coaches call timeouts. The scrimmage also gives younger players a chance to play against upperclassmen and even pitted sister against sister, as Alyssa and Kailey Fierro jumped against each other at the start of the final girls' scrimmage. Some players do switch and alternate between the two teams — blue and white.

The coaches also have to adjust to the game-like atmosphere.

"When you're coaching in practice you stop to correct and teach quite often, especially early in the year," Hammond said. "The scrimmage takes the whistle out of my mouth, which the kids need sometimes."

The boys played half an hour after the girls finished, following the same format of freshmen versus freshmen, and then JV and varsity.

Bigfork's coaches look for the scrimmage to help them make adjustments and work on certain aspects of the game, as the teams' seasons are officially under way with the Columbia Falls and Whitefish Tip Offs this weekend.

"There were some really nice things we as a staff saw during the scrimmage, but we have a lot we need to improve on," Hammond said. "Improvement doesn't stop or start with the scrimmage. Hopefully we can improve all year."