Vikes and Vals earn district titles, enter Divisionals as top seeds

The Vikings and Valkyries basketball teams will enter the Western B Divisional Tournament in Ronan this weekend as top seeds after both squads earned titles at the District Tournament Saturday.

The Valkyries cruised past Mission in the semifinals Friday before overcoming early foul woes to down Eureka in the title game Saturday while the Vikings took down Thompson Falls in the boys’ semifinal before defeating Eureka for the title.

The Vikings will open the Western B Divisional Tournament against Arlee at 8 a.m. Thursday while the Valkyries will face Deer Lodge at 11:30.

VALKYRIES 55, MISSION 27

Emma Berreth scored eight of her game-high 21 points in the opening quarter as the Valkyries jumped out to a 20-0 lead after eight minutes on their way to avenging their only loss of the season.

Braeden Gunlock added 15 points in the contest as Bigfork took a commanding 34-8 lead into the half and never looked back en route to a 28-point victory in the District 7B semifinal.

Mission Lady Bulldogs – 0, 8, 14, 5 – 27

Bigfork Valkyries – 20, 14, 12, 9 – 55

MISSION – Madison Currie 11, Kason Page 10, Kooper Page 4, Izzy Evans 2.

BIGFORK – Emma Berreth 21, Braeden Gunlock 15, Callie Martinz 6, Madison Chappius 4, Scout Nadeau 3, Ava Davey 2, Zoey Albert 2, Callie Gemballa 2.

VALKYRIES 46, EUREKA 34

The Valkyries overcame early foul trouble to hold off Eureka for the district title Saturday evening.

Gunlock went to the bench with her second foul midway through the opening quarter, followed shortly thereafter by Emma Berreth, who picked up her third foul on the offensive end moments later.

Scout Nadeau and Ava Davey helped the Valkyries hold on to a 23-17 halftime lead before Bigfork used a 14-5 run in the third quarter to expand the lead to 37-22 entering the fourth quarter.

Eureka outscored the Valkyries 12-9 in the fourth quarter but could not close the gap as Bigfork earned the district title.

Gunlock led the way for Bigfork with 21 points in the win while Nadeau added 10.

Eureka Lady Lions – 9, 8, 5, 12 - 34

Bigfork Valkyries – 13, 10, 14, 9 – 46

EUREKA – Dylan Sharp 7, Jimena Sanchez 9, Ixone Coteron 9, Jaydyn Pluid 9.

BIGFORK – Braeden Gunlock 21, Scout Nadeau 10, Ava Davey 7, Emma Berreth 5, Madison Chappius 3.

VIKINGS 55, THOMPSON FALLS 32

Eli Thorness scored half of Bigfork’s first-quarter points as the Vikings doubled up Thompson Falls 18-9 after eight minutes in the District 7B semifinals Friday.

Thorness finished with 13 to lead a balanced Bigfork scoring attack as the Vikings cruised to a 57-32 victory. Bryce Gilliard and Cole Knopic each added 12 points in the win.

Bigfork 18 11 11 17 - 57

Thompson Falls 9 4 10 9 - 32

BIGFORK — Eli Thorness 13, Bryce Gilliard 12, Cole Knopik 12, Nick Walker 6, George Brown 5, Wyatt Johnson 4, Isak Epperly 3, Levi Taylor 2.

THOMPSON FALLS — Nathan Schraeder 10, Josh Wilhite 9, Jesse Claridge 4, Brock Fennis 3, Ben Cooper 2, Bryson LeCoure 2, Braxton Durocher 2.

VIKINGS 55, EUREKA 38

Bigfork’s Levi Taylor scored seven of his team-high 16 points in the pivotal third quarter in the District 7B title game against Eureka Saturday as the Vikings downed the Lions 55-38.

Bigfork led 23-17 at the half, but outscored the Lions 32-21 in the second half to pull away.

Isak Epperly added 14 points for Bigfork in the win while Colin Wade added nine.

Eureka 6 11 7 14 - 38

Bigfork 14 9 12 20 - 55

EUREKA — Gavin Bates 18, Tristan Butts 6, Joey Kindel 5, Dan Dunn 5, Carson Komac 2, Braden Casazza 2.

BIGFORK — Levi Taylor 16, Isak Epperly 14, Colin Wade 9, Nick Walker 6, Eli Thorness 4, George Brown 2, Cole Knopic 2, Wyatt Johnson 2.