Mixed results for Bigfork basketball at tip-off tourney
SHELBY – The Bigfork girls basketball team fell 49-44 in overtime to Malta in the first game of the Coyote Classic Tip-off Tournament in Shelby last Thursday.
Bigfork faced a 37-28 deficit after three quarters, but outscored the Mustangs 14-5 in the final frame to force overtime. However, the Valkyries only managed two points in the extra period.
Emma Berreth led all scorers with 14 points, while Isabella Santistevan tallied 13 and Ansleigh Edgerton added 10. Santistevan had all of Bigfork’s triples, going 4-of-8 on 3-point attempts, and Edgerton grabbed 10 rebounds to earn a double-double.
No Malta player scored more than eight points, but a balanced effort carried the Mustangs as 10 players found the scoresheet.
Bigfork 7 8 13 14 2 – 44
Malta 13 9 15 5 7 – 49
BIGFORK – Emma Berreth 14, Ansleigh Edgerton 10, Isabella Santistevan 13, Ashton McAnally 3, Scout Nadeau 4.
MALTA – Kylee Nelson 5, Erica Smith 5, Kelbee Denham 6, Allison Kunze 3, Carly Garfield 8, Justine Lamb 6, Kylie Hunter 2, Addy Anderson 8, Sidney Meeks 2, Madison Williamson 4.
Bigfork 55, Chinook 32
SHELBY – The Valkyries shook off a tough defeat in the season-opener by shutting down the Sugarbeeters in their second game of the Coyote Classic last Friday.
Bigfork was up 11-7 after a quarter of play, but scored 21 in the second quarter to take a 14-point lead into halftime.
Ansleigh Edgerton had 20 points for Valkyries while going 9-of-19 from the field, and Emma Berreth chipped in nine points.
Scout Nadeau led the team in rebounds with 11 and Edgerton hauled in 10 for her second double-double in as many nights.
The Valkyries played at Eureka on Tuesday evening, but no scoring was available as of press time. Their next game is Friday at St. Ignatius.
Bigfork 11 21 9 14 – 55
Chinook 7 11 6 8 – 32
BIGFORK – Ansleigh Edgerton 20, Emma Berreth 9, Zoey ALbert 6, Audrey Buenz 5, Scout Nadeau 4, Nevaeh Carlin 4, Callie Martinz 3, Ashton McAnally 2, Isabella Santistevan.
CHINOOK – Bree Swanson 9, Lexi Pitkanen 8, Lily Surber 6, Allison Powell 4, Anna Terry 3, Jayden Miller 2, Jade Cecrle 1.
Boys
Malta 65, Bigfork 52
SHELBY – The Bigfork boys opened the season with a loss to Malta at the Coyote Classic Tip-off Tournament in Shelby last Thursday.
The Vikings struggled from the floor, going 9-of-36 on 2-point attempts and 5-of-20 on 3-pointers. But the team was a solid 15-of-20 from the free-throw line.
“I was happy with the play of Isak Epperly, Asher VanCampen and Wyatt Duke. I thought those three did a nice job on both ends of the floor,” Coach John Hollow said in an email.
Fisher Walker paced the Vikings with 13 points, including three of the team’s five triples, while Epperly chipped in eight points. Walker and Epperly also had three steals apiece.
Bigfork 9 11 10 22 – 52
Malta 14 16 17 18 – 65
BIGFORK – Colt Thorness 6, Fisher Walker 13, Levi Taylor 6, Eli Hines 6, Isak Epperly 8, Asher VanCampen 2, Wyatt Duke 2, Bryce Gilliard 5.
Belt 41, Bigfork 28
SHELBY – The Vikings offense was held in check as they dropped their second game on the Coyote Classic last Friday.
Bigfork took a slim 21-19 lead into halftime after a strong second quarter, but the Vikings only managed seven points in the second half. They shot 6-of-24 from the field and 13-of-27 from the charity stripe.
Coach John Hollow said in an email the team made “uncharacteristic” mental mistakes and “didn’t shoot the ball well at all,” adding “you could tell it was the first varsity games for most of our guys.” But he was happy to get good playing time for all 11 players on the varsity roster.
He said he hoped the opening weekend was “a great learning experience for our guys that will help us grow as a team. We did some things really well at times, but we were never consistent enough doing those things to win.”
“Honestly all our guys did some positive things over the weekend, we just have to do it more consistently, and they will,” Hollow said.
“I also want the boys to remember that it is December and what you do in December has no bearing on what you will do in March. I can promise you this, we are going to be a whole different team in March then we are right now.”
Epperly led the team with 10 points and was 7-of-8 on free throws. Wyatt Reichenbach and Eli Hines paced Bigfork in rebounds with six each.
The Vikings played at Eureka on Tuesday evening, but no scoring was available as of press time. They will host St. Ignatius on Friday.
Bigfork 5 16 4 3 – 28
Belt 10 9 9 13 – 41
BIGFORK – Colt Thorness 2, Wyatt Reichenbach 4, Fisher Walker 3, Isak Epperly 10, Wyatt Duke 3, Isaac Bjorge 3, Bryce Gilliard 1.