Vikes and Vals to open state tourney play Thursday

The Vikings and Valkyries will both be in action Thursday as play begins at the Class B State Basketball Tournament at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State University in Bozeman.

VALKYRIES

The Valkyries (22-1) will be in the second game of the morning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday as they take on Jefferson (21-3)

The Valkyries come into the matchup riding an 11-game winning streak and a dominating run through both the 7B district and Western B tournaments. Bigfork is averaging 61.3 points per game this season while holding opponents to just 31.1.

Jefferson needed a buzzer-beating three in overtime to earn third place against Lodge Grass in the Southern B Tournament Saturday.

Led by Rachel Van Blaricom’s 14.6 points per game, the Panthers won the first 16 games of their season before suffering their first loss February 5 at home against Big Timber, 63-51. The Panthers lost to Big Timber again in the District 5B title game and suffered a 39-35 loss to Columbus in the Southern B semifinals over the weekend.

The Panther score 60.1 points per game and have been giving up 38.8, but are just 2-2 in their last four games.

Here’s a look at the rest of Thursday’s girls matchups:

MALTA (20-1) vs COLUMBUS (13-8)

Tipoff: 9:00 a.m.

Columbus: Won 7 of last 8

(46.6 ppg for - 41.1 ppg against)

Lost to Colstrip in Southern B Final 42-28

Malta: Won last 11

(57.7 ppg for - 36.8 ppg against)

Only loss to Havre 55-26 Jan 25 (#2 in East A)

COLSTRIP (20-2) vs GLASGOW (14-8)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m.

Colstrip: Won last 17

(61.9 ppg for - 40.7 ppg against)

Lost to Jefferson 53-49 in second game of season Dec. 11

Lost to Glendive (class A) 62-19 Jan. 4

Glasgow: Won last 3

(45 ppg for - 39 ppg against)

Beat Fairfield 40-38 to earn 3rd in Northern B

HARLEM (6-11) vs THOMPSON FALLS (16-8)

Tipoff: 5:00 p.m.

Harlem: 3-5 in last 8 games

(50.5 ppg for - 54.8 ppg against)

Lost to Malta in North B final 53-40

Thompson Falls: 4-4 in last 8

(56.7 ppg for - 38.3 ppg against)

Lost to Bigfork in West B Final 45-26

VIKINGS

The Vikings (15-8) will play the second boys game of the day Thursday as they face off against Manhattan (15-6) at 1:30 p.m.

Bigfork comes into the game riding a six-game winning streak, including an overtime thriller against Eureka in Western B Championship.

The Vikings enter the game averaging 60 points per game while allowing their opponents just 39.7.

Manhattan advanced to the state tournament with a 73-72 overtime win over Lame Deer in the Southern B consolation game Saturday.

While the Tigers lost to Lodge Grass in the Southern B semifinals Friday, it was Manhattan’s only loss in their last 10 games.

Manhattan enters the game averaging 52 points per game while giving up 50 to their opponents.

Here’s a look at the rest of Thursday’s boys matchups:

MALTA (12-8) vs THREE FORKS (20-5)

Tipoff: Noon

Malta: Won 4 of last 5

(61.4 ppg for - 55.7 ppg against)

Beat Harlem in Northern B final 83-67

Three Forks: won 8 of 10

(66.4 ppg for - 48.4 ppg against)

Lost to Lodge Grass in Southern B final 68-66

LODGE GRASS (19-1) vs SHELBY (17-7)

Tipoff: 6:30 p.m.

Lodge Grass: Won last 5

(81.6 ppg for - 60.7 ppg against)

Beat Three Forks in Southern B final 68-66

Damon Gros Ventre, a 6-foot-5 senior, erupted for 71 points against Huntley Project Feb. 1, a state record at the time. The record was broken by Journey Emerson of Lame Deer four days later when he scored 82 against Forsyth.

Shelby: Won 3 of last 4

(60.0 ppg for - 47.1 ppg against)

Lost to Malta in Northern B semis

Beat Rocky Boy in consolation 59-50

HARLEM (11-6) vs EUREKA (11-13)

Tipoff: 8:00 p.m.

Harlem: won 6 of last 7

(71.6 ppg for - 64.5 against)

Lost to Malta in Northern Final 83-67

Eureka: 5-2 in last 7

(59.1 ppg for - 48 ppg against)

Lost to Bigfork 55-51 OT in Western B Final