Bigfork boys pop Polson

The Daily Inter Lake

BIGFORK - Bigfork closed with a 20-point fourth quarter to upend Polson 59-55 on Tuesday and collect its first victory in Northwestern A boys basketball play.

Bigfork, down 48-39 after three periods, finally tied the game at 52-all and never trailed after that.

Bigfork's Garrett Pewe led with 18 points, five assists and four steals. Brock Boll had a double-double for the Vikings with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Scott Taylor, who set the Bigfork school record for rebounds last Friday versus Ronan with 27, had 17 in this contest.

"The kids were real poised (at the end)," Bigfork coach Lyle Whiteman said.

"The ball bounced our way for a change, we made some free throws for a change."

Bigfork hit 5-for-7 from the charity line down the stretch.

"They're always solid," Whiteman said of Polson.

"They're always tough to beat when you get behind."

Polson was led by Louis Mohr, 16 points, and Tim Rausch, 14.

Bigfork, 1-8 and 3-14, ends regular-season play on Thursday hosting Columbia Falls. Polson, 5-4 and 9-8, entertains Libby on Saturday.

Polson 13 24 11 7 - 55

Bigfork 15 12 12 20 - 59

POLSON - Craig Bagnell 6, Kyle Bagnell 6, Waylon Michel 7, Tim Rausch 14, Louis Mohr 16, Ryan Kelley 6, Derrick Rathe 1.

BIGFORK - Garrett Pewe 18, Zac Hansen 9, Brock Boll 13, Jake Milner 4, Scott Taylor 9, Donnie Tudahl 6.

Holder scores 29 as Eureka advances

The Daily Inter Lake

EUREKA - On to the District 7B boys basketball tournament.

Eureka earned the right to move on with a 47-40 play-in district tournament victory over St. Ignatius on Tuesday.

The Lions rode a career-high scoring performance by Ryan Holder, who finished with 29 points. Holder tallied 12 of Eureka's 19 points in the second quarter as the Lions led 25-16 at the half.

"He stepped it up as a freshman scoring 29," Eureka coach Chad Dunn said.

"Getting three big 3s in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter really helped."

Eureka struggled at the free throw line, going 8-for-21. St. Ignatius was 7-for-11.

Eureka, now 4-14 overall, also beat St. Ignatius, 1-17, twice during the regular season.

Eureka was without its leading scorer - Ben Dechart, who injured his ankle in Saturday's regular-season final. His status for the tournament is up in the air.

Eureka will play Plains Friday in the 7B tournament opener at 7:30 p.m. In the other contest, it's Thompson Falls versus Troy at 2:30 p.m.

St. Ignatius 12 4 19 5 - 40

Eureka 6 19 9 13 - 47

ST. IGNATIOUS - Jorren Eies 16, Nakota McDonald 6, Riley Charlo 5, TJ Cutfinger 11, Jake Durelo 2.

EUREKA - Kade Davis 1, Jesse Thomson 2, Andrew Sanders 3, Ryan Holder 29, Marcus Pluid 12.