Vikings to play in final

PABLO - Bigfork took care of business in the first half, then coasted from there for an impressive 61-36 victory over Valley Christian on Friday in Western B boys divisional semifinal basketball play.

Bigfork (17-6) doubled the score on Valley Christian, 14-7, in the opening quarter and led 29-10 at intermission.

"We played a very good game through three quarters," Bigfork coach Paul La Mott said.

"Then we saw a 31 -point lead go down to 16 before it climbed back up form there."

The Vikings, with nine treys in the contest, were led by Travis Knoll's 17 points. Colter Trent, Ben Sandry and Christian Ker added nine each.

Valley Christian was led by Coty Becker with 10 points.

Bigfork marches on to tonight's championship game at 8:45 versus Florence.

"What a difference a week makes," La Mott said, referring to last week's disappointing third-place finish at the District 7B tournamnent.

"We still have a game tomororow night and we have a tough opponent."

Valley Christian drops into a loser-out game versus Deer Lodge today at 9:30 a.m.

Bigfork 14 15 18 14 - 61

Valley Christian 7 3 11 15 - 36

BIGFORK - Ian Lorang 2 0-0 6 Colter Trent 4 0-1 9, Evan Jordt 2 2-2 7, Ryan Gembala 1 0-3 3, Travis Knoll 7 1-2 17, Ben Sandry 4 0-0 9, Christian Ker 3 2-2 9, Dillon Fraley 0 1-4 1. Totals: 23 6-14 61.

VALLEY CHIRSTIAN - Lane Norberg 2 1-3 7, Christopher Wiley 0 2-2 2, Matthew Bowlhen 1 2-4 4, Lincoln Palmer 1 2-2 4, Alex Love 3 0-0 9, Coty Becker 3 1-2 10. Totals: 10 8-13 36.

3-point goals: Lorang (2), Trent, Jordt, Gembala, Knoll (2), Sandry, Ker; Norberg (2), Love (3), Becker (3); Team fouls: Bigfork 13, Valley Christian 16; Fouled out: Beckert.

Florence 60,

Thompson Falls 39

Florence pulled away in the second half to down Thompson Falls in the other semifinal matchup.

Adam Gregor tossed in 23 points to lead Florence, and all scorers.

Jaron Laws finished with 16 points to pace Thompson Falls.

Florence moves on to the championship game tonight, 8:45, versus Bigfork.

Thompson Falls slips into loser-out action at 11:15 a.m. versus Troy.

Florence8 16 23 13 - 60

Thompson Falls 8 7 4 20 - 39

FLORENCE - Ross Mangun 4 2-3 10, Ryne Baerlocher 2 0-0 5, Chantz Hotsinpiller 0 1-1 1, Adam Huot 4 0-0 8, Adam Gregor 8 6-6 23, Quinn Smith 2 2-2 6, Mike Finlay 1 2-4 4, Aaron Ward 0 1-2 1, Jon Johnson 0 2-2 2. Totals: 21 16-20 60.

THOMPSON FALLS - Jaron Laws 5 3-5 16, Josh Hojem 1 1-2 4, Garrett Reinschmidt 1 4-10 6, AJ Paulik 1 2-3 4, Dominique Holt 1 1-1 3, Dalton Groshong 0 0-2 0, Blade Jacobson 0 0-1 0, Chalis Wilson 3 0-0 6. Totals: 12 11-24 39.

3-point goals: Baerlocher, Gregor; Laws (3), Hojem; Team fouls: Florence 17, Thompson Falls 16; Fouled out: None.

Troy 54,

Missoula Loyola 40

Balanced scoring carried Troy to a loser-out victory over Missoula Loyola.

Cory Orr tossed in 18 points, Ryan Rayson added 13 and Cody Orr followed with nine as the Trojans advanced to today's loser-out game at 11:15 a.m.

Joshua Janssen scored 13 points for Loyola.

Missoula Loyola 10 7 9 14 - 40

Troy 12 15 12 15 - 54

MISSOULA LOYOLA - Josh Gilligan 3 1-2 7, Everett Johnston 3 4-8 10, Andrew Sopko 1 0-0- 2, Justin Anderson 1 0-2 3, Joshua Janssen 4 5-6 13, Shiloh Kerr 2 1-2 5. Totals: 14 11-290 40.

TROY - Creede Garcia 2 0-0 5, Cory Orr 7 2-4 18, Ryan Rayson 5 2-4 13, Cody Orr 3 2-2 9, Mikey Ormiston 1 0-0 2, Kody Hoffman 1 1-2 3, Trent Cratty 1 2-4 4. Totals: 20 9-16 54.

3-point goals: Anderson; Garcia, Cory Orr (2), Rayson, Cody Orr; Team fouls: Loyola 17, Troy 17; Fouled out: Kerr; Cratty.

Deer Lodge 64,

Plains 46

Deer Lodge jumped out to a 27-15 halftime lead en route to a loser-out victory over Plains.

Jesse Vasquez led Deer Lodge with 15 points. Andrew Baker tallied 12 points for Plains.

Deer Lodge advances to a loser-out game today, 9:30 a.m.

Deer Lodge 15 12 17 20 - 64

Plains 9 6 9 22 - 46

DEER LODGE - Conner Meaghae 4 3-3 11, Jesse Vasquez 4 4-4 15, Bo Antila 2 0-0 6, Lucas Finley 1 2-3 4, Robert Stone 0 1-4 1, TJ Thomas 1 2-2 4, Jake Davenport 2 1-1 5, Brandon Forson 5 3-3 13, Duncan Quigley 0 1-2 1, Reno Ward 1 1-1 3, Malik Parkham0 1-2 1. Totals: 20 19-25 64.

PLAINS - Carson Lilja 1 2-4 4, Robert Earhart 1 0-0 2, Andrew Baker 4 2-2 12, Jeff Revier 1 0-1 3, Travis Lilja 1 0-0 3, Taylor Firestone 4 1-4 11, Carter Montgomery 1 2-2 4, Wade Bach 3 1-7 7. Totals: 16 8-19 46.

3-point goals: Vasquez (3), Antila (2), Baker (2), Revier, T. Lilja; Team fouls: Deer Lodge 16, Plains 21; Fouled out: None.