Valkyries to face Thompson Falls again in districts

After barely scraping out a win against Thompson Falls 39-35 last week the Bigfork High School girls basketball team will face the Lady Bluehawks again as they head into the district tournament this week.

Though the Vals had a huge second quarter against Thompson Falls on Friday, the Bluehawks played hard and several times threatened to come back and take the lead.

“It was not a good shooting night for anyone really,” head coach Jami Grende said. “If we play like that again, we won’t win.”

Though the Valkyries have beat Thompson Falls in both their previous meetings this season, both have been close games.

Though the team will advance to the divisional tournament regardless of how the district games go, it will affect how they are seeded, and whom they have to face first in the fight to play at state.

Despite a rough match against Thompson Falls on Friday, the Valkyries bounced back on Saturday when they hosted Florence, who they toppled 62-40.

“It was a team effort, with four of the players in double figures,” Grende said.

Miranda Campbell led the Vals against Florence with 14 points. Lana Berg had 12, while Marissa Hiza and Katie Thomas each had 11. Riley Coleman had 8.

The Vals had to do without Mattison McAnally Saturday night after she took a knock to her head against Thompson Falls.

“That hurts having her out,” Grende said. “But Katie Thomas is playing very well for us.”

Tuesday night Bigfork took on St. Ignatius, winning 62-36. Thomas had five assists and 10 points against St. Ignatius.

Grende also noted freshman Haile Norred has been huge for the Vals on defense. “She is a little spark plug and makes things happen,” Grende said. “You give her one job and she does it well. She creates a lot of turnovers.”

In the district tournament the Valkyries will host Thompson Falls in a district semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. 

On Tuesday Troy will face Eureka; the winner of that game will take on Plains, in Plains, on Thursday.

The championship game will be in Columbia Falls on Saturday at 7 p.m. The consolation game is at 3 p.m. in Columbia Falls

“ I just want to get past Thursday,” Grende said. “We’ve beat Thomson Falls twice, barely. I’m expecting they’re going to come out healthier. We need to step up our game and play well.”

“I would really like to see this team go to state, they deserve it. I absolutely know we can do it, but we’re not going to do it if we don’t play well. No more easy games for the Valkyries.”

Bigfork 62, Florence 40

Florence 7 8 11 14 — 40

Bigfork 14 20 6 22 — 62

FLORENCE — Lexi Taulbee 5, Kourtney Kohlman 9, Autumn Brown 9, Ally Rust 8, Jewel Zeiler 3, Jade Zeiler 3, Meghan St. Germain 3.

BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza 11, Riley Coleman 8, Jaime Berg 6, Katie Thomas 11, Lana Berg 12, Miranda Campbell 14.

Bigfork 39, Thompson Falls 35

Thompson Falls 10 5 10 10 — 35

Bigfork 6 11 13 9 — 39

THOMPSON FALLS — Lindsey Laws 10, Shey Hannum 9, Autrey Hannum 4, Logan Beckman 12.

BIGFORK — Haile Norred 1, Marissa Hiza 7, Riley Coleman 2, Jaime Berg 6, Mattison McAnally 6, Katie Thomas 5, Lana Berg 8, Miranda Campbell 4.

Bigfork 62, St. Ignatius 36

St. Ignatius    10    5    12    9    —    36

Bigfork    13    22    15    12    —    62

ST. IGNATIUS — Sydney Castor 7, B. McCrea 3, Irene Lopez 7, Jordyn Eichert 6, Emilie Charlo 9, Trinity Lewandowski 4.

BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza 8, Riley Coleman 4, Jaime Berg 4, Jordan Haveman 2, Mattison McAnally 10, Katie Thomas 10, Lana Berg 8, Josie Spoklie 4, Miranda Campbell 12.