Valkyries rally past Eureka, secure spot at state tournament

PABLO — Caitlin Charlebois scored 11 points, including 7-of-8 from the free throw line, as the Bigfork Valkyries outlasted Eureka 40-31 in Monday night’s Western B divisional challenge game.

It was the fourth time this year that the Vals have beaten Eureka.

Kailey Fierro added eight points and 13 rebounds and Mallery Knoll added eight points and seven rebounds. Charlebois also had five steals.

The win sends the Vals (20-4) to the Class B state tournament March 11-13 in Belgrade. Bigfork is slated to play the No. 2 team from the Northern B at 8:30 p.m. March 11. The Northern B has not yet played its divisional tournament.

“I thought Eureka came out and played really well and we kind of had to gut it out and work through it,” said Bigfork coach Mark Hansen.

“Emotionally, we just weren’t ready to go. We just came out lethargic. Shots weren’t falling. I give Eureka credit. They defended us pretty well. They did what they needed to do to keep it close,” he added.

“Well-played game, I thought. Hard fought,” said Eureka coach John Hammond.

“I thought our kids played very well. We closed on shooters.  Our kids played hard. They believed in what we had them doing tonight and we were right there knocking on the door.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of the way our kids played tonight,” Hammond said.

The game was tied at 14-all at half, but Bigfork doubled its score with a 14-point third quarter.

“Our pressure worked a little better the third quarter than it did the first half,” Hansen said.

But the Lions never quit. At one point in the fourth quarter, they cut the margin to six points.

“They shot free throws very well,” Hammond said of the Vals.

The Vals were 6-for-8 in the fourth quarter.

“We made what we had to to keep them at bay,” Hansen said.

Steph Vogelman led Eureka with eight points and five rebounds. Carly Hammond added seven points and two steals. Tayler Holder added four points and three steals and Cassidy Morgan had six rebounds.

Eureka finishes the season at 14-11.

The Lions graduate three from this team — Holder, Hammond and Vogelman.

“We’ll definitely miss them next year,” Hammond said.

Bigfork     5     9     14     12 — 40

Eureka     6     8     6     11 — 31

Bigfork — Mallery Knoll 4 0-0 8, McKinze Shults 2 0-0 4, Quinci Paine 3 1-2 7, Melissa Vanderveer 0 2-2 2, Caitlin Charlebois 2 7-8 11, Kailey Fierro 3 2-5 8. Totals 14 12-17 40.

Eureka — Tayler Holder 2 0-0 4, Carly Hammond 2 2-3 7, Selene Elster 0 3-4 3, Alyssa White 2 0-0 4, Courtney Dickenson 1 0-2 3, Cassidy Morgan 0 2-2 2, Steph Vogelman 3 2-5 8. Totals 12 9-14 31.

3-points: Bigfork 0 Eureka 2 (Hammond, Dickenson) Total fouls: Bigfork 16, Eureka 13. Fouled out: None.