JV boys split conference matches, freshmen sweep

Bigfork High School’s junior varsity boys basketball team got their first conference loss last week to Columbia Falls, 70-32, but recovered the following night and beat Polson, 49-47.

The Vikings led 29-23 over Polson at half-time after both teams had low scoring first quarters and big second quarters. Ian Lorang posted nine of his 11 points in the second quarter and Christian Ker put up seven of his 12 points, including a 3-pointer, his first of two that night. Polson outscored Bigfork in the second half 24-20, but it wasn’t enough to take the win away from the Vikings.

Ker, Lorang and Travis Knoll led Bigfork with 12 points, 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Kyle Parker added eight.

“Polson made a comeback, but we kept our composure,” said Bigfork JV coach Jason Hall. “We played our game and worked hard on both ends of the court and shut them down.”

In Friday’s match-up Columbia Falls led 38-18 at the half and Bigfork’s four points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth weren’t enough to dig the Vikings out while the Wildcats scored 21 and 10 in the final two quarters.

“We just weren’t ready to play,” Hall said. “We weren’t ready to shoot. We weren’t mentally focused.”

Knoll led Bigfork with 10 points, five of which he scored in the first quarter. Lael Richmond contributed six points, all of which came from his perfect six shots from the free-throw line.

The freshman were the only boys team to beat Columbia Falls and they also took out Polson.

In Polson the young Vikings led 51-25 at half-time and sealed the win by outscoring the Pirates 24-15 in the second half for a final score of 75-40.

Ronnie Gallegos had a game high 16 points and Dillon Fraley scored 15. Ian Lorang and Cody Dopps added 10 and nine, respectively.

After leading 32-23 at half-time Friday night, the Vikings beat the Wildcats 60-51.

Gallegos and Cody Dopps led Bigfork with 15 points each. Lorang contributed nine. Fraley added seven and was three-of-four from the line.