Bigfork finally gets a state title banner

Dr. Doug Smith knew the Bigfork Vikings were going to win.

“I had a hunch this year, they could do it,” Smith said. He’s a Bigfork sports fan known for running down from the bleachers to get the crowd cheering. “I saw what coach Downey had done, and the kids’ talent.”

And he was right. Thirty-one years after the Vikings’ last appearance in a state championship game, they claimed the school’s first state title in basketball Saturday in Bozeman, defeating the Columbus Cougars 71-62.

Bigfork fans turned out in force to witness school history. After an undefeated season, everyone had their eyes on the Vikes. Some fans commented that while turnout for basketball games is usually good, there were faces in the stands they hadn’t seen at a game in years.

The boys’ game followed a gut-wrenching double-overtime girls’ championship matchup between Fairfield and Malta, which left the atmosphere in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman so tense it was palpable.

Even with his confidence in Bigfork’s ability, Smith still felt some nerves — especially remembering the last time in 1983 when he sat in the stands to watch Bigfork play for a state title.

Smith grew up in Columbia Falls, moved to Bigfork in 1970, and became a staunch supporter of Bigfork athletics. It was back then that he began leading cheers and trying to fire up the crowd.

“I just started doing it,” he said. “I like to give cheers. You can see the excitement in their faces.”

When the Vikings played for the title in 1983 however, Smith was in Buffalo, New York, doing a medical residency. But he was still following Bigfork news.

“All of a sudden we were playing for the state championship,” he said.

Being so far away, Smith wasn’t going to be able to attend, but some friends decided he needed to be there with his rousing cheers. They bought him a plane ticket.

Smith recalls the game vividly. “It was a great game, awesome game,” he said.

The championship against Conrad was close the whole way, but it was the last seconds that determined the outcome. Bigfork was down by one point with two seconds on the clock when Bigfork’s Dave Hillman sank a basket. But the referee called a player-control foul on Hillman that nullified the points, and the 1983 title went to Conrad. It was a controversial and memorable outcome.

“It was in the minds of people this time,” Smith said.

Luckily, as the final seconds ticked off the clock on Saturday, it was clear Bigfork had won, with the Vikings leading 69-60 with less than a minute remaining. Downey knew they had it bagged and pulled guys off the bench for the last seconds.

Several generations stood and cheered as Bigfork received the trophy. The Bigfork fans were elated.

“I was really happy,” Smith said. “Happy for Josh, happy for the team, happy for Bigfork.”