Vikes continue to battle it out for Northwest A supremecy

The Vikings continue to stay competitive in their first season in Class A basketball as Bigfork survived a tough test against Libby at home Thursday before dropping their matchup at Columbia Falls Saturday.

Bigfork fell behind early and trailed by as many as nine in the third quarter at home against Libby Thursday but bounced back to down the Loggers in overtime behind 17 points from Asher Knopik and another 16 from Cole Knopik.

Libby jumped out to an 11-6 lead, but a Cole Knopik three and a Jack Jensen pass to a wide open Colin Wade for a layup tied the score at 11.

An Eli Thorness jumper put the Vikings ahead, but a three by Libby’s Tyler Anderson gave the Loggers a 14-13 lead after one quarter.

The game remained tight in the second quarter as Bigfork trailed 27-26 at the half before Libby surged to take a 42-33 lead with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter.

A Cole Knopik three cut the Libby lead to 44-42 early in the fourth quarter, but the Loggers responded with five straight points to go up by seven with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.

Asher Knopik scored on a pass from Thorness, Wyatt Johnson cut backdoor for a layup and Bigfork cut the Libby lead to just one at 49-48 when Johnson made a steal and found Cole Knopik for a fast break layup with 1:45 remaining.

Asher Knopik put the Vikings ahead with a steal and layup moments later, but Libby’s Anderson hit a jumper with 44 seconds left in the fourth to put Libby back on top, 51-50.

Asher Knopik split a pair of free throws to tie the game 51-51 as both teams got a chance to win it in the final moments. A layup by Anderson rolled off the rim for Libby with 3.6 seconds remaining and a double-clutch three by Jensen bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer as they game went to overtime.

The back-and-forth battle continued in the extra period before an Austin Savik baseline jumper and a free throw by Cole Knopik put the Vikings up 58-54 with 30 seconds remaining.

Libby was unable to cut into the lead as Bigfork held on to win, 58-54.

Asher Knopik’s 17 points led the way for the Vikings in the win while Cole Knopik added 16 points, six rebound and three steals.

Jensen finished with six points, five rebounds and four assists, Johnson added five points and six rebounds, Thorness had five points and three steals, Wade finished with five points and four rebounds and Savik had four points and four rebounds.

The Vikings were back in action at Columbia Falls Saturday, where they dropped a close game to the Wildcats, 58-46.

Thorness finished with 13 points and four rebounds in the loss while Jensen had 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Asher Knopik added 10 points and five rebounds, Cole Knopik scored nine points and Wyatt Johnson had three.

The Vikes were scheduled to be back in action at Browning Thursday, but weather has tentatively moved the game to Friday evening.