Growing pains: Vikings struggle to find footing in Class A
Eli Thorness goes through a Bulldog defender on his way to the basket in Whitefish Friday. (Jeremy Weber/Bigfork Eagle)
The Vikings dropped to 4-7 last week as they suffered losses on the road at Whitefish Friday and at home against Ronan Saturday.
The Vikings trailed 14-11 after one quarter in Whitefish Saturday and fell behind by as many as 13 in the second quarter before using a 5-0 run to cut their deficit to 32-24 at halftime.
Whitefish used a 14-3 run in the opening minutes of the second half to pull away for good as the Vikings fell on the road, 66-49.
Asher Knopik was the only Viking to score in double figures in the loss, finishing with 11 points to go along with two steals.
Cole Knopik and Austin Savik each scored eight for the Vikes with Cole adding three rebounds and Savik two.
Wyatt Johnsn and Eli Thorness both scored six, Jack Jensen, Colin Wade and Jack Lucke each scored three points and Tamret Savik had one.
Bigfork was out-rebounded in the loss, 31-17.
The Vikings looked to bounce back at home less than 24 hours later as they hosted Ronan Saturday, but the Chiefs pulled away in the fourth quarter of a close game to down Bigfork 53-48.
Bigfork trailed by one after one quarter of play before outscoring Ronan 13-10 in the second to grab a 22-20 halftime lead.
Ronan was able to outscore Bigfork 33-26 in the second half to get the victory.
Bigfork shot 32% from the field in the loss, including just 4 for 17 from three-point territory, and was narrowly out-rebounded by the Chiefs, 24-23.
Asher Knopik led the Bigfork effort with 22 points and six rebounds while Thorness finished with 10 points and three boards.
Jensen scored seven to go with four rebounds, Johnson had five points and four rebounds and Wade and Cole Knopik each scored two points.
The Vikings were on the road at Browning after press time Tuesday and will be at Libby Thursday before hosting Columbia Falls Saturday.