Thurman bails out Valkyries

Back to state.

Bigfork bounced back from an emotional championship loss to Columbia Falls on Saturday night by downing Polson 50-42 on Monday in a Northwestern A divisional girls basketball challenge game at Glacier High School.

Roxy Thurman, Bigfork's do everything 5-foot-9 senior guard, scored a game-high 22 points to help ensure that the Valkyries' final season in Class A would not end in Kalispell.

Thurman scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, which included four-straight free throws.

"It was a struggle," Bigfork coach Mark Hansen said.

"Thank God for Roxy."

"A bunch," he said of how many times he's said that about Thurman after a game.

"A lot of coaches have said that (about her) for a couple of years."

Bigfork (15-7) trailed just once, 3-2, and Polson (10-12) tied it for a final time at 5-all, The Pirates trailed three times by one point until Bigfork closed the first half up by four, 20-16.

Bigfork's biggest lead came in the second and was 10 points, 34-24.

Polson closed the gap to four, 40-36, on two free throws by Nicole Davey with 5:37 to play, and to two points, 41-39, on a field goal by Rochelle Woods with 3:54 remaining.

But Thurman responded, scoring on a baseline drive in heavy traffic that ignited an 8-0 run to push the Vals on top 49-39.

And Polson never recovered.

"It didn't seem like that much (pressure was on us)," Thurman said.

"I think we play pretty well under pressure."

Thurman was a little concerned, however, saying the Vals were lackadaisical before they took the court for warm-ups.

"In the locker room, we were not very lively," she said.

"We were slow 'starting the game). We finally got it going."

Bigfork's pressure also helped get the Vals focused on the task at hand. No only did it cause fits for Polson, especially in the first half, but it threw the Pirates' offensive rhythm off track. They had 12 turnovers in the first half.

"As far as ball handling, that didn't help," Polson coach Randy Kelley said of having two players - Sierra Pete (ankle) and Cali Hislop (ACL) - not available for this game.

"We were kind of strapped there."

The Pirates were limited to seven points in the second quarter, five coming from the free throw line.

"We've been able to do that all year," Hansen said of forcing turnovers.

"That's been one of our mainstays."

Polson was led by Breanne Kelley, who finished with 14 points. Riley Kenney was next with nine. Woods and Nicole Davey both had eight.

"I thought the girls played with a lot of heart," coach Kelley said.

"A brakedown here and there defensively (hurt). We had a couple of letdowns there."

Kailey Fierro and Mallery Knoll both scored seven points for Bigfork. Off the bench, Lila Cenis came through with five, while Quindee Averill excelled on the defensive side.

"Both of them (Cenis and Averill) gave us huge minutes when we were in foul trouble," Hansen said.

Hansen said he was confident heading into Bigfork's third meeting of the season with Polson. Bigfork also won the previous two.

"As well as we've been playing, I was pretty comfortable," he said.

"The girls felt they were peeking at the right time."

Bigfork opens state tournament play on Thursday versus Anaconda.

"State will be tough, too," Thurman said.

"We played our best games (all season at the divisional). All four games."

Bigfork will compete in Class B next season.

Bigfork 10 10 16 14 - 50

Polson 9 7 12 14 - 42

BIGFORK - Mallery Knoll 3 1-2 7, Quinci Paine 2 0-1 4, Quindee Averill 0 0-1 0, Lila Cenis 2 1-1 5, Taylor Peck 0 3-4 3, Roxy Thurman 7 7-9 22, Caitlin Charlebois 1 0-0 2, Kailey Fierro 2 3-6 7. Totals: 17 15-24 50.

POLSON - Breanne Kelley 5 3-6 14, Rochelle Woods 2 4-6 8, Riley Kenney 4 1-2 9, Nicole Davey 2 4-8 8, Sarah Newton 0 3-4 3. Totals: 13 15-26 42.

3-point goals: Thurman, Kelley; Team fouls: Bigfork 24, Polson 18; Fouled out: None.