Vals win 13th straight, dominating Northwest A
The Valkyries basketball squad had little trouble going 3-0 last week to improve to 13-1 and a Northwest A best 8-0 in league play.
The duo of Braeden and Paeten Gunlock continued to dominate league opponents, averaging 36 points, 16 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 steals per game together during the three wins while the Valkyries also got 15-point outings from both Ava Davey and Keni Wade.
The Valkyries made an early statement against Browning at home Tuesday, jumping out to a 24-1 lead over a Lady Indians squad that came into the contest undefeated in Northwest A action.
Afton Lambrecht battles Browning’s Josey Micheal for a rebound last week. (Jeremy Weber/Bigfork Eagle)Bigfork repeatedly broke Browning’s full-court press in the opening quarter, leading to several easy hoops as the Vals built their lead.
The Vals led 35-10 at the half before outscoring Browning 24-20 in the second half to grab a 59-30 victory.
Patten Gunlock led the way with 16 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and six assists in the win while Davey added 15 points and four rebounds before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Braeden Gunlock finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and four steals for the Vals while Callie Gembala added eight points and 10 rebounds in a physical battle on the post. Wade chipped in with six points, and Haley Schara added a free throw and five rebounds. Afton Lambrecht also pulled down five boards for the Vals.
The battle was a lot less physical Thursday as the Vals blew past the Lady Loggers at home, downing Libby 73-17.
Bigfork got 23 points and 12 rebounds from Braeden Gunlock and 20 points, eight assists and seven steals from Paeten as they took on the Lady Loggers without the injured Davey.
It was all Vals from the tip as Bigfork jumped out to a 22-3 lead after one quarter and led 47-8 at the half.
Wade finished with seven points in the victory, Chloe Norred and Gembala each added six, Kegan Campbell and Schara both scored four points, and Lambrecht added three points and five rebounds.
The Valkyries picked up their second win of the season over Columbia Falls Saturday as they took down the Wildkats on the road, 51-34.
Bigfork dominated the first three quarters outscoring the Wildkats 47-17 before Columbia Falls put up half of its scoring total with 17 in the fourth quarter.
Wade knocked down a trio of triples on her way to a game-high 15 points while Braeden Gunlock finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and five steals and Paeten added 10 points, six assists and four steals.
Gembala added six points and six rebounds in 27 minutes of action for the Vals while Lambrecht scored five and Norred had two points and two rebounds.
The Valkyries were at home against Polson after press time Tuesday and will travel to Browning for a 7:15 p.m. tip-off Thursday.