Bigfork wins divisional opener

PABLO - Melissa VanDerVeer hit a couple of big shots late in the third period, sparking Bigfork to a 59-37 first-round victory over Valley Christian on Thursday at the Western B divisional girls basketball tournament.

VanDerVeer finished with six points.

"We never broke away until the end of the third quarter," Bigfork coach Mark Hansen said.

"We couldn't put them away until the fourth quarter."

Bigfork (20-1) led 29-20 at the half and 40-30 heading into the fourth quarter.

"We didn't play bad, we just couldn't separate ourselves from them. We couldn't put the ball in the hole and we had some nice close-in shots. We just struggled," he said.

Bigfork, however, enjoyed a banner night at the charity stripe, sinking 22 of 27 shots. Caitlin Charlebois was 12 of 15 en route to a game-high 22 points.

Mallery Knoll added 14 points for the victors.

Heidi Cross led Valley Christian with 14 points

Third-ranked Bigfork advances to tonight's semifinal contest versus Deer Lodge at 9:15.

Valley Christian moves on to loser-out play today at 9:40 a.m. against Plains.

Valley Christian 8 12 10 7 - 37

Bigfork 19 10 11 19 - 59

Valley Christian - Hollyn Whittmier 1 2-2 2, Kaylee Velin 1 1-2 3, Tessa Pearson 4 2-3 13, Heidi Cross 3 8-10 14, Charissa Ireland 0 2-4 2. Totals: 9 15-21 37.

Bigfork - Mallery Knoll 5 3-4 14, Miranda Miller 0 2-2 2, Quinci Paine 4 3-3 11, Taylor Peck 2 0-0 4, Melissa VanDerVeer 2 2-2 6, Caitlin Charlebois 5 13-14 22. Totals 18 22-25 59.

3-point goals - Bigfork 1 (Knoll), Valley Christian 4 (Pearson 4, Cross). Totals fouls - Bigfork 15, Valley Christian 18. Fouled out - none.

Deer Lodge 46,

Plains 31

Deer Lodge pulled away in the third period by holding Plains to a single basket in their first-round matchup.

Bailey Senecal led Deer Lodge scoring with 15 points.

The win sends Deer Lodge on to tonight's semifinal game versus Bigfork at 9:15 p.m.

Plains moves to loser-out action versus Valley Christian at 9:40 a.m. today.

Plains 8 11 2 10 - 31

Deer Lodge 15 9 11 11 - 46

PLAINS - Malena Sweet 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Beagley 0 4-8 4, Laurel Danhof 0 0-0 0, Aspen Rude 0 1-2 1, Diamond LaDeaux 1 2-2 4, Kayla Revier 2 3-4 7, Felicia Earhart 2 4-5 10, Nikki Kunzer 1 1-2 3, Jessica Hanson 0 2-2 2, Ashley Thompson 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 17-25 31.

DEER LODGE - Lacie Thomas 0 2-2 2, Marisa McKee 1 0-0 2, Shelby Applegate 4 2-4 11, Shyanne Anderson 3 0-0 6, Kristin Schalk 2 1-1 5, Bailey Senecal 6 1-1 15, Dani Walker 1 3-4 5. Totals 17 9-12 46.

3-point goals- Plains 2 (Earhart 2), Deer Lodge 3 (Applegate, Senecal 2). Totals fouls - none.

St. Ignatius 39,

Superior 29

St. Ignatius rode the 14-point scoring performance of Kyla Mitchell to a 10-point first-round victory.

Superior was led by Kaitlyn Koke's nine points.

St. Ignatius advances to the semifinal round today versus Loyola at 7:30 p.m.

Superior falls into loser-out play today at 8 a.m. versus Troy.

Superior 6 7 9 7 - 29

St. Ignatius 8 12 8 11 - 39

SUPERIOR - Kelsey Stenberg 2 3-10 7, Nicole Stroot 1 1-3 3, Cary Chamberlain 1 1-2 3, Malinda Steinebach 1 2-2 4, Ashley Blaylock 0 3-6 3, Kaitlyn Koke 3 3-6 9, Kinzie Cooper 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 12-29 29.

ST. IGNATIUS - Ashley Courville 1 3-4 5, Loren Erickson 1 4-6 6, Kyla Mitchell 5 4-6 14, Steph Lewandowski 2 2-4 6, Bryanna Steele 4 0-0 8, LaGlenn Mitchell 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 13-20 39.

3-point goals - Superior 0, St. Ignatius 0. Totals fouls - Superior 20, St. Ignatius 25. Fouled out - Superior: Steinebach.

Loyola 69, Troy 22

Loyola jumped out to a 21-2 first-quarter lead and rolled from there.

Alex Anderson, a senior guard, led Loyola in scoring with 20 points.

Jackie Pepiot scored nine points for Troy.

Loyola moves on to the semifinal session tonight at 7:30 versus St. Ignatius.

Troy falls into loser-out action today at 8 a.m. versus Superior.

Troy 2 11 1 8 - 22

Loyola 21 17 19 12 - 69

TROY - Jackie Pepiot 4 0-0 9, Jordan Williams 0 2-2 2, Alyssa Olds 2 0-0 4, Kimmy Klin 0 0-2 0, Michaela Curry 0 0-0 0, Megan Cummings 0 4-4 4, Alanah True-Silva 0 0-0 0, Natassja Hines 0 1-2 1, Katie Lundin 0 0-0 0, Kellie Lundin 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 7-10 22.

LOYOLA - Kari Tirrell 3 1-1 8, Alex Anderson 10 0-0 20, Maggie Crippen 1 0-0 2, Kiernan Haggarty 2 1-2 5, Sam Manley 2 0-0 4, Taylor Galiher 2 0-0 4, Maddie Keast 5 0-0 11, Maddy Malsam 3 0-0 6, Maddie Mansch 1 0-0 3, Ashley Medeiros 2 2-3 6, Callan Haggarty 0 0-0 0, Brittany Finch 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 4-6 69.

3-point goals - Troy 1 (Pepiot), Loyola 3 (Tirrell 1, Keast 1, Mansch 1). Totals fouls - Troy 5, Loyola 13. Fouled out - none.