Bigfork defeats Frenchtown in first game of season

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork High School boys' basketball team did in its first game of the 2007-08 season, what it failed to do all last season — finishing strong and win a game.

"I was so happy," Bigfork coach Jim Epperly said. "The kids were so excited. We got that monkey off our backs."

The 43-27 win Friday against Frenchtown was the only win for the Vikes at the Northwest/Southwest Tipoff Tournament. Bigfork fell to Anaconda the next day 57-40.

Bigfork broke away from the Frenchtown Broncs midway through the first quarter, as Brock Boll scored five points and Donny Tudahl added two to break a 3-3 tie. The Vikes led 10-3 after the first quarter and maintained a small lead as the Broncs outscored them in the second quarter.

"Frenchtown is big and physical," Epperly said. "They've got a lot of good football players on their team, but I think they haven't got the football pads off yet."

Free throws and rebounding helped the Vikes throughout the game. Boll continued his scoring for Bigfork, totalling 11 points for the Vikes. He scored the rest of his 11 in the third quarter on two field goals and two free throws. Roland Benedict, who led the Vikes in scoring with 16, was also 2-for-2 from the free-throw line in the third quarter. A field goal from him capped off the third quarter with the Vikes ahead 30-19.

Epperly was pleased with his team's performance in what he refered to as the three main areas of the game — rebounding, free throws and turnovers.

"You need to win two of those three to win a game," Epperly said. The Vikes out-rebounded the Broncs 31-19. Benedict pulled down 11 and Boll snagged 12 rebounds. "They were all over the boards," Epperly said.

The Vikes received an all-around team effort against the Broncs. Ben Sandry and Keenan Evans had a hand in the scoring in the fourth quarter. Sandry sank one free throw, as did Evans before Sandry assisted Evans for two points. Garrett Pewe also dished out the ball in the final eight minutes. He fed Evans the ball to make the score 38-23 with just under two minutes to play. Pewe was 2-for-2 at the free-throw line, scoring Bigfork's final points of the game. Jake Milner added two points in the fourth quarter as well.

"The bench played really well Friday," Epperly said. "The had a great energy and added to the win."

The Vikes struggled in the game following their emotional win the next morning. Epperly said the team did not shoot well from the line, was out-rebounded and committed too many turnovers while lacking the energy and defensive effort that they displayed in the Frenchtown game.

"That usually spells defeat," Epperly said. "We have to learn how to play back-to-back games."

A few of the Bigfork players were just shy of double digits in scoring. Benedict tallied eight, while Boll and Evans both had nine. Benedict also recorded nine steals agaisnt the Copperheads. He was 4-for-11 from the free-throw line.

Bigfork missed some easy baskets in the post, Epperly said, adding that the Vikes just had trouble finishing.

"We weren't with it. We were a step slow," he said.

The Vikes will have to quicken their steps as they host Eureka in their home opener tonight, Dec. 13, and then head into conference action against the Libby Loggers tomorrow in Libby. The matchup against the Eureka Lions begins at 5:30 p.m. with the junior varsity game, as the Lions do not have a freshman team. Action in Libby is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. with the freshman game.

Bigfork 10 6 14 13 - 43

Frenchtown 3 8 8 8 - 27

BIGFORK - Roland Benedict 16, Donny Tudahl 2, Jake Milner 4, Brock Boll 11, Garrett Pewe 2, Keenan Evans 7, Ben Sandry 1.

FRENCHTOWN - Daniel Aichlmazer 2, David Velasquez 1, Matt Block 3, Jesse Dahlberg 7, Cody Beierle 4, Nate Davis 8, Cody Kirk 2.

Bigfork 9 10 9 12 - 40

Anaconda 12 20 12 13 - 57

BIGFORK - Roland Benedict 8, Jake Milner 4, Brock Boll 9, Garett Pewe 6, Zach Hansen 3, Scott Taylor 1,Keenan Evans 9.

ANACONDA - Sam Fergesson 10, Matt King 7, Lucas Wagner 14, Henry Huber 16, Steve Collins 10.