Vikings, Valkyries basketball teams to open playoffs
The Vikings basketball team will be looking to shake off a three-game losing streak Thursday as Bigfork opens the district tournament at home against the winner of a play-in game between Mission and Troy at 7 p.m.
The Vikings fell victim to a trio of southern teams at home last week, losing to Ronan, Polson and Thompson Falls. Despite the losses, Bigfork will still enter the District 7B tournament as the top seed.
Vikings 55, Ronan 58
Bigfork jumped out to a 28-22 lead over the Ronan Feb. 11, but was outscored 22-13 in the third quarter as the Chiefs came back to down the Vikings 58-55.
Isak Epperly led the Vikings with 16 points while Eli Hines added 11 points and four rebounds. Colt Thorness also scored in double figures with 10 and added seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
Vikings 44, Polson 54
The Vikings again held the lead after one quarter against Polson Thursday but found themselves trailing at the half, 28-15. Bigfork used a 23-10 run to tie the game at 38-all after three quarters, but the Pirates outscored the Vikings by 10 in the fourth to earn a 54-44 victory.
Thorness scored 13 points and added five blocks and four rebounds to lead the Vikings effort while Walker Fisher added 12 points and three rebounds.
Vikings 48, Thompson Falls 54 (OT)
The Vikings found themselves in a close game to close out the regular season at home Saturday as they fell to Thompson Falls in overtime.
The Bluehawks grabbed a 23-21 lead at the half, but the Vikings won the third-quarter battle to take a 33-31 lead into the fourth. Both teams were knotted at 45 at the end of regulation, but the Bluehawks scored five of their nine points from the foul line in the overtime period to pull away for the win.
Thorness, Hines and Epperley each scored 10 points to lead the Viking scorers in the contest while Wyatt Duke added nine, Fisher scored seven and Wyatt Reichenbach had two points.
The Valkyries went 2-1 last week and will enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed from District 7B. Bigfork will host Eureka in the first round of the playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. The winner will have a chance to play for the district title in Libby Saturday.
Valkyries 51, Ronan 42
The Valkyries and Maidens were locked in a close battle through three quarters in Ronan Feb. 11, but Bigfork was able to outscore Ronan 14-6 over the final minutes to earn a nine-point win.
The difference for the Valkyries came from three-point range, where Bigfork went 4-12 while the Maidens failed to connect, going 0-14.
Ansleigh Edgerton scored 23 points and added seven rebounds to lead the Valkyries in the win while Ashton McAnally added 11 points and also had seven rebounds.
Valkyries 46, Polson 6
It was all Bigfork in Pablo Thursday as the Valkyries cruised past the winless Lady Pirates by 40 points. The Valkyries jumped out to an 18-0 lead after one quarter of play and led 25-1 at the half on their way to the win.
Emma Berreth was the leading scorer for the Valkyries in the win, finishing with 20 points while adding six steals. Maddison Chappuis and Scout Nadeau each chipped in with eight points.
Valkyries 41,
Thompson Falls 50
The Valkyries jumped out to a 13-7 lead after one quarter at home against the Lady Bluehawks Saturday but were outscored in each of the final three quarters as Thompson Falls earned the win.
Edgerton finished with 12 points and six rebounds to lead the Bigfork effort while Berreth added 11 points and four steals.
Wrestling
Joseph Farrier was in action for the Vikings at the State Wrestling Tournament in Billings over the weekend where he was pinned by Townsend’s Will Lane in 1:54 in the opening round before losing to Hunter Decker of Simms via major decision, 13-5. ¦