Valkyries top Lady Pirates
BIGFORK - The Valkyries' frontcourt got down and dirty.
And they were too busy boxing out, swatting shots and wrestling for loose balls to worry about scoring. They left that to their guards.
The Bigfork High School girls' basketball team pulled away from Polson on Tuesday night for a 53-27 Northwestern A victory.
Six-foot-2 senior post Alyssa Fierro had five blocks to go with six points, while 6-foot sophomore forward Kailey Fierro tallied nine boards, four blocks and five points.
Bigfork's trio of starting guards combined for 36 points, led by Hattie Bowen with 16 and Roxy Thurman with 15. Bowen grabbed 10 rebounds to notch a double-double, while Avery Vogel totaled five points, five steals and four assists.
The Valkyries' balance proved pivotal as they turned a 19-15 halftime lead into a comfortable cushion to remain perfect in conference play (7-0) while improving to 12-1 overall.
"It was our first home game back in awhile, so we knew that we had to come up and show who we are," Alyssa Fierro said.
"Halftime helped, I think. We just talked about how we needed to play more as a team. That always helps. That's how we play."
Alyssa Fierro spent most of the second quarter on the bench after picking up her second foul, and the Lady Pirates (2-5 Northwestern A, 6-7 overall) outscored the Valkyries 9-4 in the frame. But her return paid big dividends after the break, even as she went scoreless in the third quarter.
"We sat Alyssa most of that second quarter because we figured as long as we could hold onto that lead, even if it was a close game, we were going to go ahead and save her for that second half," Bigfork coach Nate Hammond said. "We didn't do much different, we just were able to get her in the basketball game a little more, and that makes a big difference.
"She's just such a factor and a presence that it makes it easier for all the other kids to score when she's able to stay in there because she draws so much attention."
Bigfork opened the third quarter with a 6-0 spurt, scoring on three layups in just over a minute. Polson, which hit just eight field goals, was unable to keep pace, especially while committing 24 turnovers on the night.
"We played a good first half," Polson coach Randy Kelley said. "I thought the second period we came out defensively and did some good stuff as far as man and help defense. But they came out in the second half and hit some quick shots and layins, and from there it kind of snowballed on us."
Senior post Merilee Mowbray led the Lady Pirates with seven points, followed by junior forward Sarah Newton with six and junior forward Rochelle Woods with four.
Neither team took advantage of the game's 39 fouls as they combined to shoot 22-for-47 (46.8 percent) from the free-throw line.
Bowen hit two second-half 3-pointers for the only treys in the contest.
"We knew it was going to be a tough one, and in the first half it definitely was," Hammond said. "We had trouble scoring, and so did they. Good defense in that first half."
The Valkyries' victory came after Saturday's triumph over Class AA Flathead, in which senior forward Jaylee Haveman suffered a scary injury, sidelining her for Tuesday's game. Bigfork was already without senior Charlene Miller, who sustained a knee injury early in the season.
"I was a little nervous without Jaylee because it takes away some depth in the frontcourt," Hammond said. "But I wasn't afraid of them not being ready. Polson's a big game, and it's a bigger game than Flathead for us. I knew we would be ready to go, I was just worried about the depth."
Alyssa Fierro said she expected a determined effort from Polson, and that gut-check victories are invaluable to a team with postseason aspirations.
"Obviously, a win is a win no matter how you play, but we know that we'll be in some close ones eventually, no matter how far we make it," she said. "It's good when they're close. I think it makes the game more intense and makes you play harder."
Polson 6 9 7 5 - 27
Bigfork 15 4 15 19 - 53
POLSON (6-7, 2-5) - Amanda James 0 3-4 3, Rochelle Woods 2 0-2 4, Merilee Mowbray 1 5-8 7, Nicole Davey 1 1-2 3, Sarah Newton 3 0-2 6, Loni Havlovick 1 1-4 3, Breanne Kelley 0 1-2 1. Totals 8 11-24 27.
BIGFORK (12-1, 7-0) - Quindee Averill 1 0-0 2, Emily Hardman 1 0-0 2, Hattie Bowen 7 0-0 16, Avery Vogel 1 3-6 5, Roxy Thurman 4 7-9 15, Alyssa Fierro 3 0-2 6, Kailey Fierro 2 1-6 5, Nicolette Peterson 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 11-23 53.
3-point goals - Pol. 0, BF 2 (Bowen 2). Team fouls - Pol. 21, BF 18. Fouled out - none.