Bigfork girls in divisional title game

PABLO — On to the championship game.

Bigfork never trailed en route to a 56-40 semifinal victory over Florence on Friday at the Western B divisional girls basketball tournament.

The eighth-ranked Valkyries (19-3) broke the game open in the third period, outscoring Florence 22-10. Bigfork led at the half 22-19.

“We came out and did a nice job (offensively in the third quarter),” Bigfork coach Mark Hansen said.

“We lost Taylor Peck to a knee injury in that quarter, but the girls rallied around that.”

Peck totaled 10 points and shared the team lead in assists with Melissa VanDerveer, both with four, before leaving the game.

Caitlin Charlebois keyed the Bigfork offense with 17 points. Quinci Paine tossed in 14.

Paine finished with a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds.

“She had a great game,” Hansen said.

Hansen said Mallery Knoll turned in “another great defensive game.”

 Bigfork will play for the divisional title tonight at 8:30 p.m.

The top two teams advance to state.

Bigfork    11    11    22    12    —    56

Florence    7    12    10    11    —    40

BIGFORK — Mallery Knoll 2 1-2 5, McKinze Shults 1 0-0 2, Quinci Paine 6 2-3 14, Taylor Peck 4 0-0 10, Melissa VanDerveer 0 0-1 0, Caitlin Charlebois 7 2-4 17, Kailey Fierro 4 0-1 8. Totals: 24 5-11 56.

FLORENCE — Brittany Heinz 4 6-10 14, Abby Mytty 2 0-0 5, Odessa Conley 3 0-2 6, Courtney Byrne 2 1-3 5, Rosa O’Brien 3 1-2 8, Kayla Johnson 1 0-1 2. Totals: 15 8-18 40.

3-point goals: Charlebois, Peck (2); Mytty, O’Brien; Team fouls: Bigfork 14, Florence 16; Fouled out: None.