JV Vals split road games; Vikes hit fourgame skid

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

After splitting their two road games last week, the Bigfork Valkyrie junior varsity team faces two tough opponents this week.

The Vals, now 8-3 on the season, defeated the Libby Lady Loggers 33-20 before falling to the Flathead Bravettes 45-42. Bigfork's only other two losses came at the hands of the Polson Lady Pirates and Columbia Falls Wildkats, who the Vals host Jan. 22 and Jan. 25.

Bigfork played consistently through three quarters, according to Bigfork coach Bill Epperly. The Vals led 18-10 at halftime and continued to lead 29-12 at the end of the third quarter.

"We had a couple of tigers on defense," Epperly said.

Mallery Knoll and Signa McLeod grabbed seven and six steals respectively. Knoll finished the game with eight points, six of which she scored in the third quarter.

Quinci Paine led the Vals in scoring with 13. She also pulled down eight rebounds. McKenzie Reeve recorded three assists for the Vals.

Rounding out the Bigfork scorers were Quindee Averill with two, Emily Hardman had eight and Nicolette Peterson finished with two.

Bigfork mounted a comeback against the Bravettes but still fell short. The Vals trailed Flathead by seven points at halftime but came out with a two-point lead to end the third quarter 28-26.

"We had a big third quarter but couldn't hold the lead," Epperly said. "We dealt with some good size with our tallest girl (Lila Cenis) out."

The Bravettes' height advantage made it hard for the Vals to grab too many rebounds. Bigfork was led in that category by Peterson, who had six. She scored two points in the game.

Turnovers were also a problem for the Vals. Epperly said Bigfork committed "way too many."

"We shared it," he said of the turnovers. Five Vals had five or more turnovers each.

Sharing the scoring for the Vals were Averill with three points, Reeve tallied five and Hardman had eight. Hardman also had five steals in the game, as did Knoll. She ended the night with 10 points.

Paine led the Vals with her 13 points, while Ariana Shults added one.

Bigfork's JV game Jan. 25 is scheduled to follow the 4:15 p.m. freshman game.

Bigfork's junior varsity boys basketball team had gone 7-0 on the season before hitting its recent four-game losing streak.

The Vikes, now 7-4 on the season, dropped both of their home games last week to the Libby Loggers and Flathead Braves. Libby struck first, dealing Bigfork a 37-35 loss before the Braves beat Bigfork 50-42.

Good defense and offense execution has kept the Vikes close in many of their losses, but Bigfork has struggled to get shots to drop.

"They're battling and working hard," Bigfork coach Mark Hansen said. "We've just hit a little skid."

Bigfork got a big boost from Ben Sandry against the Loggers. He scored all of his 12 points off of 3-point baskets. Three of those treys were in the fourth quarter. Scott Taylor scored five points in his two quarters of play, and grabbed 11 rebounds as well. Jordan McAnally led the Vikes in assists with two.

The Loggers came out playing aggressively and led early. Zac Hansen scored all five of his points in the first quarter. He sank a 3-point basket and went two for two from the free-throw line to make the score 12-10. Libby led 14-10 after the first quarter.

Brandon McDonald scored six points. Rounding out the Bigfork scoring was Evan Jordt with two, Troy Bolivar with one, Travis Knoll with two and Christian Ker scored two points as well.

Both Libby and Bigfork struggled in the third quarter. Bigfork trailed the Loggers 27-15 at halftime and scored six points in the third, while the Loggers scored just four points. Down by 11 at the start of the fourth quarter, Taylor made two free throws to cut the Logger lead to nine points at 32-23.

Libby committed turnovers and sent the Vikes to the line, but Bigfork couldn't capitalize on those opportunities. Bigfork moved the ball around well but when sent to the line again, Taylor missed the next four free throws. Jordt brought the Vikes back within seven points of Libby with 3:25 remaining in the game.

Two 3-pointers from Sandry made the score 32-31 with less than two minutes on the clock. Sandry tied the game at 34 apiece with 1:15 on the clock. Taylor stepped back to the free-throw line and made the second of two shots to give the Vikes a 35-34 lead.

Libby clinched the win with a 2-point field goal with 20 seconds remaining and a free throw with one second to go.

It was another close game the next day. Taylor was one of Bigfork's leading rebounders. He, Lael Richmond and Knoll each pulled down five rebounds. Taylor finished the game with eight points. Richmond also led the Vikes in assists and steals with four and two. Knoll scored five points in the game.

Sandry was close behind Taylor. He scored seven points while Hansen and Bolivar chipped in with five each. Zach Bruer ended the game with four points. McAnally, Jordt and Ker all scored two points.

Bigfork travels to Columbia Falls tomorrow, Jan. 25 and to Polson the next day.