Basketball teams beat Eureka and Libby
VIKING BASKETBALL
The Bigfork boys basketball team continued their winning streak last week, taking down Eureka 58-17 in their home opener on Thursday and defeating Libby 59-37 on Saturday.
Libby came out ready to give the Vikings a run for their money and thrived at the 3-point line, building a 27-25 halftime lead, but Bigfork dominated the second half.
After freshman Ryggs Johnston drilled a pair of second quarter three pointers, the Loggers had a 22-14 lead. The rest of the game, however, belonged to the Vikings.
“They were playing really well,” Bigfork coach Sam Tudor said of Libby’s strong first half. “George Gibson started getting going down low and that was a changer. It got our inside-outside game going a little bit.”
Gibson finished with 10 points as all five Vikings starters scored in double-figures. Jonathan Landon, Anders Epperly and Joseph Potkonjak all added 10. Adam Jordt led all scorers with 18.
On Thursday Bigfork held Eureka to two baskets in the first half.
The Vikings ran out to an 18-2 lead in the first quarter and scored the first 13 points of the second quarter before stepping off the gas, scoring just four more points in the final 5:20 of the first half to take a 34-4 halftime lead.
Bigfork held the Lions to two points for the first seven minutes of the third quarter, stretching its lead to 44-6. Eureka scored a pair of threes in the last minute of the third, but Bigfork found an answer at the close of the period when Levi Spanogle hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Vikings a 49-12 lead.
Spanogle led Bigfork with 11 points as the Vikings’ bench scored 33 points. “We came out guns blazing,” Tudor said. “We had some freshmen come in and score right away. It always helps to have that bench play. That was probably the best part of our game tonight.” Jamie Good led the Lions with five points. Bigfork played its final game of the calendar year Tuesday against Columbia Falls.
Bigfork 10 15 17 17 — 59
Libby 15 12 2 8 — 37
BIGFORK — Anders Epperly 10, Adam Jordt 18, Joseph Potkonjak 10, Jonathan Landon 10, George Gibson 10, Beau Santisteven 1.
LIBBY — Jonny Cielak 6, Ryggs Johnston 14, Anthony Johnson 11, Jason Brant 2, Erik Lauer 4.
Eureka 2 2 8 5 ¬¬— 17
Bigfork 18 16 15 9 — 58
EUREKA — Jamie Good 5, Colton Cooper 3, Brad Stein 2, Sam Hannay 4, Lucas Blankers 3. Totals: 6 2-6 17.
BIGFORK — Anders Epperly 4, Adam Jordt 6, Joseph Potkonjak 7, Jonathan Landon 6, Logan Taylor 2, Levi Spanogle 11, George Gibson 9, Colton Reichenbach 6, Beau Santistevan 2, Garrett Beville 2, Randy Stultz 3. Totals: 23 7-9 58.
VALKYRIES
The Bigfork girls basketball team added two more wins to its record last week.
The Valkyries defeated Eureka 65-27 on Thursday, and Libby 48-40 on Saturday.
Lana Berg scored 21 points and plucked eight rebounds to nearly single-handedly carry Bigfork to a win against the Loggers.
“She’s a beast,” Bigfork coach Jami Grende said of Berg. “She had a great game all-around, she never came out of the game and she played great defensively.”
Despite Berg’s big day, the Valkyries did not put the game away until the fourth quarter. Libby trailed just 35-26 entering the final frame.
Katie Thomas added seven points in the win. Mattie McAnally finished with six points, seven rebounds and six steals.
Against Eureka the Vals dominated, leading 31-14 at halftime, and finishing 65-27. The Vals wrapped up their 2015 play in Columbia Falls on Tuesday.
Bigfork 15 9 11 13 — 48
Libby 10 8 8 4 — 30
BIGFORK — Lana Berg 21, Katie Thomas 7, Hailee Norred 6, Mattie McAnally 6, Miranda Campbell 6, Jaime Berg 2.
LIBBY — Shannon Remy 10, Jayden Winslow 7, Madisen Monigold 6, Trinity Wallace 3, Khalyn Hageness 2, Abby Ennenga 1, Ashley Walker 1.
WRESTLING
Bigfork wrestling has continued to improve as they move further into the season.
Connor Meyer (132) placed third at the Buzz Lucey Memorial Tournament in Eureka. Meyer pinned Libby’s Reed Christensen in 1:19 for third.
Matt Farrier (170) also took third at the meet, beating Dechland Sparrow 7-4.
“They’re putting in the work,” coach David Laird said.
Buzz Lucey Memorial Tournament at Eureka
1. Eureka 217, Polson 146, Flathead JV 116 1/2, Whitefish 108, Plains 104, Columbia Falls JV 80, Libby 68, Arlee 50, Bigfork 48, Glacier JV 43.
132 — Connor Meyer, Bigfork, pinned Reed Christensen, Lib, 1:19
170 — Matt Farrier, Bigfork, dec. Dechlan Sparrow, 7-4