Vals use quick start to sink 'Kats
Jennifer DeMonte/Daily Inter Lake<br>Bigfork's Callie Gunderson battles her way to the basket against Columbia Falls' Jenna Toole, left, and Jessica Boyer during Tuesday night's game at Bigfork High School.
The Daily Inter Lake
BIGFORK - A fast start has been a good omen lately for Bigfork.
And it held true Tuesday night.
The Valkyries jumped out to an 11-5 lead on Columbia Falls en route to a 55-33 Northwestern A girls basketball victory.
The win lifts Bigfork to 2-4 in league action and 7-5 overall.
Columbia Falls (2-2 and 7-5) never got on track offensively, failing to crack double digit scoring until the final frame.
The Wildkats trailed 27-13 at the half and 37-21 going into the fourth period.
"It all depends for us on how we start out," said Bigfork coach Nate Hammond.
"The last couple of games, we've been coming out of the gate, ready to play. I'm really proud of them for doing that."
Hammond said Hannah Hilley, 13 points, played a super game.
"Hannah has really been playing well lately," said Hammond.
"She rebounded the ball fantastic tonight. She hung in there against some great post players."
Bigfork also got a big game from Nikki Thompson, who tallied 11 points.
Columbia Falls, still missing two key starters from the lineup, had three players score six points to lead the way - Callie Spencer, Jenna Toole and Danielle Herman.
"They battled hard even though they've had some adversity lately," said Hammond of Columbia Falls.
"I look for them to come on strong (from here on out)."
Bigfork's next action is a nonconference outing Saturday at Eureka.
Columbia Falls hosts Ronan on Friday.
VALKYRIES 55, WILDKATS 33
Columbia Falls 5 8 8 12 - 33
Bigfork 11 16 10 18 - 55
Columbia Falls - Callie Spencer 3 0-0 6, Jessica Boyer 1 0-0 2, Jenna Toole 1 4-6 6, Kim Pearce 2 1-3 5, Beth Karper 1 0-0 2, Jessica Davis 2 0-1 4, Alona Raymond 1 0-0 2, Danielle Herman 3 0-0 6. Totals: 14 5-10 33.
Bigfork - Callie Gunderson 1 3-4 5, Hannah Hilley 4 5-8 13, Nikki Thompson 4 0-0 11, Whitney Wilson 1 2-4 4, Carly Hilley 1 2-2 4, Breana Brendsel 2 0-0 4, Alyssa Fierro 4 1-1 9, Beth Bermel 1 3-4 5. Totals: 18 16-23 55.
3-point goals: Thompson (3). Team fouls: Columbia Falls 16, Bigfork 12. Fouled out: None.