Bigfork ballers come up short at Loyola

The Vikings and Valkyries both suffered road losses in their only games last week with both teams falling in Missoula to Loyola.

The Vikings jumped out to an early lead in their contest, but could not hold on down the stretch as they fell to Rams, 55-43.

Colt Thorness scored eight of his game-high 17 points in the opening quarter as Walker Fisher and Isak Epperly each hit threes to put Bigfork up 18-8 after one quarter of play. The Rams came storming back in the second quarter, outscoring the Vikings 20-11, but Bigfork held a narrow 29-28 lead at the half.

Thorness scored four in the third while Eli Hines, Wyatt Reichenbach and Levi Taylor each added baskets to give the Vikings a 39-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter. It was all Rams in the final eight minutes, though, as Loyola used a 21-4 to pull away in the fourth for the win.

Along with his 17 points, Thorness added a team-high eight rebounds and three blocks in the loss while Hines finished with six points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block. Fisher scored six and added four rebounds, Epperly scored five, Reichenbach had four points, Isaac Bjorge scored three and Taylor had two points.

The Valkyries kept their game against the Lady Rams close through three quarters before Loyola made nine of 11 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 49-34 victory.

Ansleigh Edgerton and Emma Berreth combined to score 15 of Bigfork’s 17 first-half points as the Valkyries trailed the Lady Rams by two at the half. Ashton McAnally scored all eight of her points for the Valkyries in the second half as Bigfork trailed by only five after three quarters, 32-27.

Edgerton led the Valkyries with 11 points in the contest while Berreth was also in double figures with 10. McAnally added 8, Scout Nadeu scored three and Madison Chappuis added two points.

Both teams are at home Saturday as they host Troy beginning with Valkyries at 2 p.m. The Vikings are set to tip-off at 3:30 p.m. The Valkyries will be in action again Tuesday at Ronan at 7 p.m. while the Vikings will host the Chiefs at 7:15 p.m.

The Wrestling team was in action at Plains Saturday. Results were not available at press time. The team will be in action at the divisional meet at St. Ignatius Saturday.