PHOTOS: Divisional basketball

Tamret Savik dives for a stray ball in the Vikings’ first divisional game against Dillon on Thursday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Valkyrie Keni Wade tries for two against Browning in the Western A Divisional Tournament on Saturday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Treker Hickey drives in under the basket for the Vikings on Thursday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Valkyrie Paeten Gunlock races down court playing the Browning Indians on Saturday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Austin Savik scores for the Vikings playing Dillon on Thursday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Braeden Gunlock muscles her way under the basket on Saturday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Alex Ochs looks for a pass on Thursday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Chloe Norred takes a shot for the Vals on Saturday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Jack Lucke tries for two for the Vikings on Thursday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Quinn Herring takes a shot for the Vikings on Thursday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

Valkyries coach Cortnee Gunlock cheers on her team after a win over Browning on Saturday. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)

by Bigfork Eagle
| March 12, 2025 12:00 AM

The Valkyries took third place at the Western A Divisional Tournament in Whitefish this weekend, clinching their spot at state.

The Vals started the tourney in the first-place seed for the Northwest and came in strong with a 51-24 win over Butte Central. Their upset on the way to the championship came in their second matchup against number two in the Southwest, Dillon, where the Vals were head-to-head with the Beavers until the last stretch, ultimately losing 57-49.

However, the Valkyries bounced back against Browning, 58-44, and defeated Columbia Falls 52-32 in the consolation bracket to take home third. Dillon went on to win first, and Frenchtown, ranked number one in the Southwest, second.

The Vals will take on number two in the East, Havre, at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 13 at the State A Tournament in Billings. The event will be hosted at MetraPark First Interstate Arena and Lockwood High School.

The Vikings, who fought hard in the play-ins, ultimately lost out at divisionals. Starting in the fourth place slot for the Northwest, their first opponent was Southwest champion Dillon, the team which would ultimately win the tournament. Bigfork lost their first match 61-38. On day two, the Vikings beat Butte Central 73-71. However, in a heart-wrenching 60-59 loss to Frenchtown on Saturday, the Vikes were bumped from the bracket and missed their shot at state.

“I am really proud of the kids and how much we improved from the beginning of the season to the end,” coach John Hollow said. “We played six games in 11 days and two of those were play-in games to get to the Divisional Tournament. This team was very connected, hardworking, selfless and genuinely cared about one another. I am grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it.”