Valks head to state

The Valkyries will open play at the Class B State Basketball Tournament in Butte Thursday as they take on Big Timber at 5 p.m.

Bigfork enters the tournament as the second seed from the Western Division after falling to Loyola in the divisional title game in Hamilton Feb. 29 while the Lady Sheepherders finished second to Colstrip in the Southern B Divisional title game Saturday, 45-38.

The Valkyries come into the game averaging 45.5 points, 28.4 rebounds and 11.5 steals per contest, having won three of their last four games. Big Timber is also 3-1 in its last four games.

The winner will advance to face the winner between Malta and Forsyth at 5 p.m. Friday. Malta enters the tournament as the top seed from the North while Forsyth was third in the south.

A loss would have the Valkyries playing on the consolation side of the bracket at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

On the other side of the bracket, Colstrip, the top seed from the South, will take on the north’s second-seeded team, Shelby, at 9 a.m. Thursday. Top seed from the West, Loyola, will face No, 3 seed from the North, Harlem, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

The championship game is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.