Loyola rallies by Bigfork for Western B title

PABLO — Missoula Loyola rallied past Bigfork for a thrilling 42-41 victory on Saturday night in the Western B divisional girls basketball championship game.

Loyola, ranked No. 3 in Class A, outscored Bigfork, ranked No. 8, 10-6 in the final period.

Bigfork (19-4) led 23-17 at the half and 35-32 heading into the fourth period.

The Valkyries were led by Caitlin Charlebois, who scored 20 points. Ashley Mederios scored 11 points for Loyola.

Bigfork will now play a challenge game on Monday at 6 p.m. versus Eureka in Pablo. The winner advances to state in Belgrade on March 11-13 along with Loyola.

Missoula Loyola    8    9    15    10    —    42

Bigfork    12    11    12    6    —    41

MISSOULA LOYOLA — Jordan Pfau 1 0-0 2, Alex Anderson 4 1-2 9, Kiernan Haggarty 2 0-0 4, Tayler Galiher 1 1-2 3, Emma Priddy 2 2-6 6, Alex Lamey 4 1-3 11, Ashley Mederios 2 3-6 7. Totals: 16 8-19 42.

BIGFORK — Mallery Knoll 4 0-0 9, McKenzie Shults 0 2-2 2, Quinci Paine 2 1-3 5, Melissa VanDerveer 0 1-2 1, Caitlin Charlebois 8 2-3 20, Kailey Fierro 1 2-5 4. Totals: 15 8-15 41.

3-point goals: Lamey (2); Knoll, Charlebois (2); Team fouls: Loyola 14, Bigfork 16; Fouled out: None.

Eureka 40,

Valley Christian 26

PABLO — Eureka used a big first half to capture the consolation title with a 14-point victory over Valley Christian.

The Lions (14-10) held Valley Christian under double-digit scoring in the first three periods.

Steph Vogelman led Eureka with 14 points.

Eureka will face Bigfork on Monday at 6 p.m. in Pablo in a challenge game. The winner advances to state.

Earlier Saturday, Eureka overcame a slow start, outscored 3-1 in the opening quarter, to eliminate Florence 39-30.

The Lions led 13-7 at the half.

Cassidy Morgan and Vogelman both had 10 points for Eureka. Tayler Holder added seven.

In the other loser-out contest, Valley Christian edged Deer Lodge 45-44.

Eureka     13    9    8    10    —    40

Valley Christian    5    6    6    10    —    26

EUREKA — Tayler Holder 1 1-2 3, Carly Hammond 3 0-1 6, Selene Elster 0 1-2 1, Alyssa White 3 1-3 8, Courtney Dickinson 1 2-2 4, Cassidy Morgan 2 0-0 4, Steph Vogelman 6 2-3 14. Totals: 16 7-13 40.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN — Kaylee Velin 2 1-2 6, Hollyn Wittmier 1 0-0 2, Tessa Pearson 1 0-0 3, Beth Kesler 3 3-4 9, Heidi Cross 1 0-0 3, Charisa Ireland 1 1-2 3. Totals: 8 5-8 26.

3-point goals: White; Velin, Pearson, Cross; Team fouls: Eureka 7, Valley Christian 16; Fouled out: None.

Loser-out games

Eureka    1    12    14    12    —    39

Florence    3    4    11    12    —    30

EUREKA — Tayler Holder 3 1-2 7, Carly Hammond 0 2-5 2, Selene Elster 2 0-0 4, Alyssa White 0 2-6 2, Courtney Dickinson 1 2-4 4, Cassidy Morgan 4 2-2 10, Steph Vogelman 4 2-4 10. Totals: 14 11-23 39.

FLORENCE — Brittany Heinz 2 1-2 5, Abby Mytty 5 0-0 10, Odessa Conley 0 8-10 8, Courtney Byrne 2 0-0 4, Kayla Johnson 1 1-2 3. Totals: 10 10-14 30.

3-point goals: none; Team fouls: Eureka 15, Florence 23; Fouled out: None.

—————

Valley Christian    7    16    11    11    —    45

Deer Lodge    9    8    15    12    —    44

VALLEY CHRISTIAN — Hollyn Wittmier 2 0-0 4, Tessa Pearson 3 0-0 9, Beth Kesler 6 6-6 18, Heidi Cross 3 1-3 8, Charisa Ireland 3 0-0 6. Totals: 17 7-9 45.

DEER LODGE — Syd McKee 6 9-13 24, Shelby Applegate 3 0-1 6, Sky Anne Anderson 0 0-3 0, Andi Lambert 1 0-0 2, Danni Johnson 5 2-5 12. Totals: 15 11-22 44.

3-point goals: Pearson, Cross; McKee; Team fouls: Valley Christian 20, Deer Lodge 14; Fouled out: None.

 Boys

Missoula Loyola 65, Plains 51

PABLO — Third-ranked Missoula Loyola gets to play on.

The Rams downed Plains 65-51 in a challenge game on Saturday night to earn the No. 2 seed into the Class B state basketball tournament.

Loyola lost to second-ranked Florence on Saturday in the divisional title game, 66-65 in overtime.

The Class B state tournament begins Thursday in Great Falls.

Plains    20    14    9    8    —    51

Missoula Loyola    13    17    15    20    —    65

PLAINS — Kyle Hermiston 2 0-0 6, Dillon Fryxell 3 0-0 7, Brian Green 4 2-3 10, Taylor Firestone 1 0-0 2, Bryce Benson 2 0-0 4, Tanner Ostrom 0 0-2 0, Trent Thompson 9 4-6 22. Totals: 21 6-11 51.

MISSOULA LOYOLA — Carter Bermingham 1 7-7 10, Peter Shaughnessey 1 3-4 5, Pat Jensen 7 1-1 15, Kolby Kicking Woman 1 0-0 3, Shilo Kerr 1 0-0 2, Tanner Grimstad 5 0-2 10, Cade Cross 1 1-4 3, Everett Johnston 6 5-11 17.

3-point goals: Hermiston, Fryxell; Bermingham, Kicking Woman; Team fouls: Plains 22, Loyola 12; Fouled out: Benson.