Val's winning streak ends at 29, bounce back with win over Dillon
Keni Wade looks to make a pass for the Valkyries during their 52-32 win over Dillon at the Western A Tip Off in Frenchtown Saturday. (Jeremy Weber/Bigfork Eagle)
It took having to play overtime with three starters fouled out, but the Valkyries 29-game winning streak came to an end Friday evening with a 40-37 loss to Frenchtown at the Western A Tip Off.
Braeden Gunlock was held to just six points in less than 12 minutes as she battled foul trouble, eventually fouling out early in the fourth quarter.
Fellow starters Ava Davey and Callie Gembala joined her on the bench before the extra period as the Valkyries turned to their young bench to keep the game close.
Keni Wade hit a pair of clutch threes down the stretch to help keep the game close, but Bigfork could not hold off the Lady Broncs.
“Friday night did not work out the way we planned it, but we played a lot better on Saturday,” head coach Cortnee Gunlock said about the loss. “The good thing about Friday was that I got to put in a lot of players that generally would not have been in there in a tight situation like that. The experience they gained will be invaluable down the road and I think they handled the situation pretty well.”
No Vals scored in double figures in the loss as Paeten Gunlock led the attack with nine points while Wade finished with eight, Gembala had seven points, Braeden Gunlock scored six, Chloe Norred hit one three pointer and Davey and Afton Lambrecht each scored two.
Lambrecht added 11 rebounds in the loss while Paeten Gunlock added four steals and four assists.
“In the end, that loss is no big deal. We really only have to win the ones at the end of the season. Those are the ones that matter. If we lose now, we learn things and we grow.”
The Vals looked like a different team Saturday as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead over Dillon and never looked back on their way to a 52-32 victory.
Braeden Gulock scored 15 to lead the Vals in the win while Wade scored 12 and Davey added 10 points and six steals.
Paeten Gunlock scored six, Gembala had four points and Lambrecht scored two.
“We came out strong on Saturday and played a lot looser than we did Friday. I think that loss might actually have been a positive for us. We are not undefeated anymore and they can stop worrying about that and just play basketball.”
The Vals were on the road at Polson after deadline Tuesday and will be in Lewistown for the East/West Tip Off this weekend.