Valkyries basketball wins two; boys split pair
A furious comeback bid by the Vikings fell just short at home Saturday as Bigfork fell to Deer Lodge, 43-39.
After Bigfork gave up 20 unanswered points to the Wardens to open the game, the Vikings used a 16-2 run to cut the Deer Lodge lead to just 22-16 at the half on the strength of seven second-quarter points from Isak Epperly.
Bigfork was able to cut the Warden lead to just one in the early moments of the third quarter, but Deer Lodge once again took control, going up by as many as 12 before taking a 34-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
Again, Bigfork had an answer, using a pressing defense to force a number of Warden turnovers to help the Vikings get back into the game. The Vikings cut the lead to two on an alley-oop dunk by Colt Thorness with 2:16 to play, but Bigfork would come no closer as the Wardens held on to win by four.
Head coach John Hollow said his team’s ability to come back from such a large deficit showed the character of his squad.
“I’ve been coaching a long time and I know I have never been down 20-0 to start a game. I still think we can take some positives out of it. It would have been easy to give up after that first quarter, but we fought our way back into it,” he said.
Thorness led the Vikings with nine points, five blocks and four rebounds while Levi Taylor scored eight, Isak Epperly had seven points, Isaac Bjorgie added six points and a team-high five rebounds, Wyatt Duke scored four, Walker Fisher had three, and Eli Hines had a basket.
Girls
Saturday
Bigfork 36 -
Deer Lodge 22
The Valkyries jumped out to a 9-0 lead over the Lady Wardens and later went up by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 14-point victory.
Deer Lodge was able to cut the Bigfork lead to four twice in the third quarter, but the Valkyries used a 15-0 run to open the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
No additional scoring was available.
Boys
Tuesday
Bigfork 64, Troy 28
It was all Bigfork from the opening tip at Troy Jan. 7 as the Vikings built a double-digit lead by halftime and cruised to a 36-point victory.
“It was nice to be able to play some of our younger kids,” Hollow said. “I think my starters only played about a quarter and a half, or so. It was good to get some of the younger players some experience on the floor.”
Thorness led the way with 14 points and five rebounds while Fisher scored 12 and Taylor was also in double figures with 11.
Girls
Tuesday
Bigfork 51, Troy 8
The Valkyries jumped out to a 15-0 lead after one quarter of play at Troy Tuesday and never looked back as Bigfork picked up a blowout win over the Trojans.
Ansleigh Edgerton scored 16 points and added eight rebounds in the win while Emma Berreth scored nine, Maddison Chappuis and Isabella Santistevan each scored six, Scot Nadeau and Neveah Carin both scored four and Ashton McAnally, Callie Martinez and Audrey Buenz each scored two.
Saturday
Wrestling
At Florence-Carlton
The Vikings wrestling squad earned fifth-place at the Mike McChesney Memorial meet at Florence-Carlton High School Saturday.
Bigfork went 10-6 at the meet, led by a first-place finish by Shelton Woll in the 145-pound weight class. Woll pinned opponents from Florence-Carlton and Plains/Hot Springs to earn the title.
Archie Brevik was second in the 152-pound division, Ryder Nollan took second in the 138-pound division, and Vaughn Pendlay earned third in the 145-pound weight class.