Vikings split pair at Class A tournament to open season
Eli Thorness goes up for a shot against Stevensville at the Frenchtown Tip Off Tournament. (Jeremy Weber/Bigfork Eagle)
After a blowout win over Stevensville to open the season Friday, the Vikings got a good test from defending Class A state champion Butte Central Saturday and finished 1-1 at the Tip Off Tournament in Frenchtown.
The Vikings used a balanced scoring attack to make short work of the Yellow Jackets Friday, getting 13 points from Eli Thorness, eight from Bryce Gilliard and seven each from Jack Jensen and Nick Walker.
Bigfork jumped out to a 22-0 lead after one quarter before outscoring the Yellow Jackets 13-3 in the second to build a 35-3 halftime advantage.
The Vikings won the second-half battle 14-10 to grab a 49-13 win to open the season.
Wyatt Johnson added six points in the victory while Isak Epperly and Landon Beyerman each scored four.
Early foul trouble doomed the Vikings against Butte Central Saturday as Bigfork fell to the Maroons 65-43.
Nearly all of the Bigfork starters found themselves on the bench with two fouls in the first quarter as the Maroons jumped out to a 19-9 lead after eight minutes of play.
The Vikings battled their way back to pull within six, but the Maroons used a 14-2 run in the third quarter to pull away for good.
Walker had 13 points to lead the Bigfork effort while Thorness added 11, Epperly had 10, Gilliard scored 7 and Landon Bjorman scored 2.
The Vikings hosted Eureka after press time Tuesday.