JV Vikes lose last two, freshman split

The Bigfork High School junior varsity boys team’s final week wasn’t a very good reflection on how they played all season. They lost 55-33 to Polson last Tuesday and 41-34 to Columbia Falls Thursday night.   

Against Columbia Falls, Ben Sandry scored the team’s only three points in the first quarter,  while Columbia Falls scored 11.

Bigfork worked to close the gap in the second quarter, outscoring Columbia Falls 10-6, led by Travis Knoll who scored all five of his points that quarter.

The Vikes went flat again in the third, with Sandry being the only scorer again. He had six and the Wildcats put up 15.

Sandry, who returned last week after missing four games due to a hand injury, scored a total of 11 points for Bigfork. He led the team in free throw shooting, making five of his six shots.

Bigfork made a comeback in the fourth quarter led by Christian Ker, who scored nine of his 11 points for the night when he put in two 3-pointers, a 2-pointer and sunk one of his two free-throw shots. In the final period the Vikes were able to outscore the Cats 16-8, but it wasn’t enough.

Although they were unable to beat the Cats, who gave Bigfork’s JV team their first loss of the season on Jan. 30, the game was an improvement from their earlier meeting when the Vikes lost 70-32.

“We played a lot better than we did the first time,” JV coach Jason Hall said. “We slowed the game down a lot and took better shots. Our defense was outstanding. We only gave up 18 points in the first half, unlike last time when we gave up 38.”

Tuesday’s game against Polson was a little uglier for Bigfork. Sandry had the only basket of the first quarter while the Pirates jumped out with a 13-2 lead. Ker put up seven points, including a 3-pointer, in the second quarter to help the Vikes outscore Polson 11-9. Ker scored another six in the third, but Bigfork was still outscored 9-8. Bigfork trailed by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter, and as they began repeatedly fouling the Pirates that deficit only grew. Bigfork gave Polson 24 shots from the line in the fourth, 17 of which they made to help them outscore the Vikes 24-12.

Ker led Bigfork with 13 points and Evan Jordt added seven, and both boys put in 3-pointers.

This week’s games were the last of the season for the JV team, who ended the season 15-4.

“This season has been great,” Hall said. “I enjoyed every minute.”

The freshman boys team had a slightly better end to their season. They were able to squash Polson in a 74-32 victory, and narrowly lost 66-63 to Columbia Falls.

Bigfork led 30-24 over Columbia Falls at halftime, but let their lead slip away in the third quarter when the Cats outscored them 21-12 and then both teams posted 21 points in the fourth.

“We knew it would be a tough game because we only beat them by 10 last time,” said Bigfork freshman boys basketball coach Michael Edwards. “It was a real emotional game because of that and we just made some mistakes and had some turnovers.”

Ian Lorang finished his freshman season with another big offensive night. He scored a total of 20 points, nine of which he put up in the first quarter. He put in three 3-pointers and five from inside the arc. Connor Coleman contributed 12, half of which he scored from the free-throw line in 10 attempts. Ronnie Gallegos added 10, including a 3-pointer in the first quarter.

“Every one of those kids left everything on the floor,” Edwards said of his team. “We wanted it, we just couldn’t get the ball in the hole. We let our emotions get the best of us down the stretch.”

The freshman Vikings’ efforts paid off much better against Polson. Bigfork held a 32-8 lead at halftime and still didn’t let up, scoring another 24 in the third and 18 in the fourth, while Polson put up 12 points in each of the final periods.

“We came out in full court press and I don’t think they were expecting the press,” Edwards said. “We caused a lot of turnovers and got a lot of easy shots.”

Lorang had a game high 25 points, 11 of which he put up in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer. Coleman scored 11 points, all in the first quarter, and Dillon Kuntz scored nine.

Last week was also the final games for Bigfork’s freshman team and first year Bigfork coach, Edwards. The team finished their season 14-3.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids to coach,” Edwards said. “I had a blast and I hope they did too. It’s not every year that you get a team that only loses three games and shows up every game. All those kids have a bright future in this game. All 12 players improved in strides and every day came to work hard.”