WESTERN B DIVISIONAL: Bigfork boys clinch state tournament berth
Bigfork clinched a spot in the state tournament with a resounding 66-39 victory over Libby in the semifinals of the Western B divisional basketball tournament on Friday at Flathead High School.
Vikings freshman guard Anders Epperly scored 17 points to lead Bigfork, which pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Loggers by 14 points in the final eight minutes.
Adam Jordt had 15 points and Joseph Potkonjak and Jonathan Landon each added 10 points the Vikings.
Jonny Cielak led Libby with 13 points.
Bigfork advances to tonight’s championship game, where they will get a rematch with Florence, the only team to beat the Vikings this season. Playing in Florence, the Falcons scored four points in the closing seconds to beat Bigfork in a matchup of unbeatens. Tip for the championship game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Libby is still alive for a state tournament berth, playing Thompson Falls in a loser-out game at 9 a.m. at Stillwater Christian School. The Loggers will need a win and a third-place finish in the consolation final against the winner of the Loyola-Deer Lodge game to claim the West’s third seed in the state tournament.
Bigfork 19 9 17 21 — 66
Libby 14 8 10 7 — 39
BIGFORK — Anders Epperly 17, Adam Jordt 15, Joseph Potkonjak 10, Jonathan Landon 10, George Gibson 5, Garrett Beville 5, Logan Taylor 4.
LIBBY — Jonny Cielak 13, Erik Lauer 8, Ryggs Johnston 5, Colin Maloney 5, Anthony Johnson 4, Zander Petersen 2, Brandon Sadewasser 2.
Florence 58, Missoula Loyola 41
Florence sewed up a trip to the state tournament and moved into today divisional finals with an easy win over Missoula Loyola.
The Falcons (21-1) breezed past their opponent for the second straight day, rolling to a 29-15 halftime lead against their District 6B rivals.
Dan Mickelsen scored 26 points on 11 for 16 shooting to lead Florence.
Florence 12 17 16 13 — 58
Loyola 8 7 9 17 — 41
FLORENCE — Dan Mickelson 26, Levi Clagett 9, Marcus Zeiler 8, Jake Christopherson 6, Cody Liles 5, Levi Edwards 2, Bo Zeiler 2.
LOYOLA — Parker Davis 10, Ryan McHugh 8, Lochlin Ermatinger 7, Fisher Richardson 6, Joey McElroy 3, Jack Burns 2, Kellen Round 2, Strother Cooper 2, Frank Zheng 1.
Thompson Falls 50, Troy 31
Joe Frields and Trais Hoisington combined for 37 points to keep Thompson Falls’ season alive in a loser-out game against District 7B rival Troy.
The Blue Hawks (11-11) earned a second-place finish in the district tournament but were upset in the first round on Thursday by Missoula Loyola. Friday, Thompson Falls made sure there would be no second upset, opening up a 26-9 lead at halftime.
Frields finished with 19 points to lead all scorers, connecting on three 3-pointers in the win. Hoisington’s pulled down a game-high eight rebounds to go along with his 18 points.
Troy (7-16) shot just 20.4 percent from the field as its season came to an end. Sean Opland led the Trojans with seven points.
Thompson Falls must win twice more to reach the state tournament, starting today at 9 a.m. against Libby at Stillwater Christian School. If they win, the Blue Hawks will reach the 3 p.m. consolation finals back at Flathead High School.
Troy 4 5 12 10 — 31
T. Falls 14 12 12 12 — 50
TROY — Sean Opland 7, Dillon Savage 6, Trinity Rice 6, Adam Tallmadge 5, Kolten Winebark 5, A.J. Faur 2.
THOMPSON FALLS — Joe Frields 19, Trais Hoisington 18, Tyler Riffle 6, McKenzie Holt 3, Corey Tessier 2, Danny Hoisington 2.
Deer Lodge 58, Anaconda 48
Colter Scully made 12 fourth-quarter free throws and Deer Lodge ended District 6B rival Anaconda’s season with an upset win in a loser-out game.
Scully finished with game highs in points (20) and rebounds (13), and made 14 of 16 foul shots, leading the Wardens’ (9-15) upset of the Copperheads (14-8), who were the second-seeded team out of the district.
Deer Lodge 7 13 12 26 — 58
Anaconda 9 5 15 19 — 48
DEER LODGE — Colter Scully 20, Cade Benjamin 13, Brandon Porter 13, Kaehl Lowery 9, Koby Owens 3.
ANACONDA — Braxton Hill 19, Bobby Swainston 9, Trent Mikalatos 8, Caleb Stetzner 7, Sean Gallagher 3, Kayne Cobban 2.
GIRLS
Loser-Out Games
Bigfork 55, Troy 35
Bigfork bounced back from Thursday’s heartbreaking loss to beat Troy for the fourth time this season, eliminating the Trojans in a loser-out game.
The Valkyries (17-5) led by only two points at halftime, one day after losing at the buzzer to Missoula Loyola, but Bigfork outscored Troy 33-15 in the second half on Friday.
Lana Berg scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the second half, and her younger sister, Jaime, finished with 13 points.
Troy (12-11) was led by Allie Brown’s 12 points. Allie Coldwell added 11.
The Vals need to win twice today to reach the state finals, beginning at 10:40 a.m. against Libby at Stillwater Christian School. If they win, they will face the winner of Florence-Deer Lodge in the third-place game at 4:40 p.m., back at Flathead High School.
Bigfork 13 9 20 13 — 55
Troy 13 7 11 4 — 35
BIGFORK — Lana Berg 19, Jaime Berg 13, Miranda Campbell 10, Katie Thomas 7, Mattie McAnally 6.
TROY — Allie Brown 12, Allie Coldwell 11, Aurora Becquart 4, Olivia Roach 4, Alyssa Lewis 4.
Deer Lodge 54, Eureka 48
Deer Lodge turned around a four-point halftime deficit in the third quarter and held on to beat Eureka and extend its season in a loser-out game.
The Wardens (14-10) outscored the Lions 19-8 in the third quarter to take a 39-34 lead into the fourth.
Lenora Campbell and Jaicee Senecal each scored 13 points in the win. Darcy Walker added 12.
Eureka 13 12 9 14 — 48
Deer Lodge 16 5 18 15 — 54
EUREKA — Amanda Peterson 15, Stacy Cooper 10, Sienna Utter 9, Cassie Peterson 6, Liz Pacella 4, Karley Bozarth 2, Ashlyn Waldo 2.
DEER LODGE — Lenora Campbell 13, Jaicee Senecal 13, Darcy Walker 12, Alyssa Lamb 8, Rilee Gray 4, Kamryn Scully 2, Josee Applegate 2.
Semifinals
Loyola 46, Florence 42
Loyola rallied in the fourth quarter to knock off Florence.
The Breakers, down 32-30 after three quarter, outscored the Falcons 16-10 after that.
Tessa Burke led thke Breakers in scoring with 13 points.
Danielle Zahn had 15 for Florence.
Loyola 5 9 16 16 — 46
Florence 5 10 17 10 — 42
LOYOLA SACRED HEART — Darien Schneider 7, Joslynn Haran 2, Tessa Burke 13, Payson Jacobson 4, Skylar Hollenback 7, Kenna Guenther 8, Brook Kolar 5.
FLORENCE — Alexis Taulbee 2, Kourtney Kohlman 4, Autumn Round 5, Ally Rust 4, Rilee Mangun 3, Makenna Liles 5, Danielle Zahn 15, Chloe Arthur 4.
Ronan 61, Libby 44
Ronan put the issue to rest, outscoring Libby by 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Ronan, up 28-21 at intermission, took a 43-36 edge into the final eight minutes.
Madisen Monigold led Libby in scoring with 11 points.
Lee Camel netted a game-high 24 points for Ronan. Micalann McCrea was next with 17 and Alicia Camel scored 13.
Libby 10 11 15 8 — 44
Ronan 13 15 15 18 — 61
LIBBY — Ashley Walker 1, Trinity Wallace 5, Madisen Monigold 11, Abby Ennenga 8, Jayden Winslow 12, Shannon Reny 7.
RONAN — Micalann McCrea 17, Jordyn Clairmont 3, Siliye Pete 2, Louetta Conko-Camel 2, Alicia Camel 13, Lee Camel 24.