Late heroics lift Vals to title game

HAMILTON – Ansleigh Edgerton scored with 29 seconds left and Isabella Santistevan hit two big free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining to lift Bigfork over Thompson Falls 47-46 in the Western B Divisional semifinals Friday.

The Vikings (14-8) advanced to Saturday’s championship against unbeaten Loyola (22-0), which edged Florence 35-34 in the other semifinal. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

In Friday’s loser-out action, Eureka’s girls stayed alive with a 67-52 win over Mission, and Anaconda ousted Deer Lodge 59-56. Eureka (14-7) will take on Thompson Falls in a loser-out game Saturday morning which a berth in the third-place game on the line.

Bigfork 47,

Thompson Falls 46

Santistevan’s throws put Bigfork (14-8) up 47-44; Edgerton’s basket answered one by Jody Detlaff that had Thompson Falls (17-5) up 44-43 with a minute left.

Santistevan led the Valkyries with 10 points. Megan Baxter had 12 points for the Bluehawks.

T-Falls 12 11 10 13 - 46

Bigfork 13 15 6 13 - 47

THOMPSON FALLS (17-5) – E. Pardee 6, E. Baxter 11, R. Wilson 3, F. Fields 3, J. Detlaff 11, M. Baxter 12.

BIGFORK (14-8) – E. Berreth 4, A. Bruinez 6, M. Chappins 9, S. Nadeau 6, A. Edgerton 9, I. Santistevan 10, A. McAnally 3.

Eureka 67, Mission 52

The Lions got 17 points from Katie Schmidt, including three 3-pointers. Maggie Graves added 14 points that included an 8-for-14 performance at the line – Eureka drained 27 of 42 free throws.

Michael Shea added 10 points off the bench for Eureka. Karolyna Buck scored 17 to lead Mission.

Eureka 25 17 11 14 - 67

Mission 17 10 12 13 - 52

EUREKA (15-7) – Megan Hanson 7, Avery Escobar 5, Katie Schmidt 17, Maggie Graves 14, Karlee Frost 5, Jayden Pluid 6, Reena Truman 3, Michael Shea 10.

MISSION (8-15) – Karolyna Buck 17, Aza Humphrey 15, Madyson Currie 3, Courtney Mitchell 3, Kooper Page 5, Sydney Brander 7, G. Smith 1.

Late Thursday

Florence 53,

Eureka 52 OT

Eureka 12 14 9 10 7 - 52

Florence 12 11 11 11 8 - 53

EUREKA (14-7) – Megan Hanson 4, Avery Escobar 2, Katie Schmidt 9, Reena Truman 13, Jaydn Pluid 7, Maggie Graves 9, Michael Shea 8.

FLORENCE (12-9) – K. Wood 4, E. Stensrud 11, K. Kovatch 5, Kasidy Yeoman 20, J. Lewis 2, Zahn 3, T. Williams 8.

Western B Divisional

Hamilton

(2 teams advance to State)

Thursday

Missoula Loyola 75, Mission 36

Florence 53, Eureka 52 OT

Thompson Falls 50, Deer Lodge 33

Bigfork 57, Anaconda 49

Friday

Eureka 67, Mission 52, loser-out

Anaconda 59, Deer Lodge 56, loser-out

Missoula Loyola 35, Florence 34, semifinal

Bigfork 47, Thompson Falls 46, semifinal

Saturday

10:30 a.m. — Florence (12-10) vs. Anaconda (14-8), loser-out

10:30 a.m. — Eureka (15-7) vs. Thompson Falls (17-5), Hamilton Middle School, loser-out

4:30 p.m. — Morning winners, consolation

7:30 p.m. — Missoula Loyola (22-0) vs. Bigfork (14-8), championship