Vikings drop wild OT semi to Wolf Point

GREAT FALLS - Undefeated and top-ranked Wolf Point escaped with a 81-78 overtime victory over a determined Bigfork squad Friday night in semifinal play at the Class B state boys basketball tournament.

Wolf Point (24-0) outscored Bigfork (19-8) 11-8 in the extra session.

"It was incredible," Bigfork coach Paul La Mott said. "Our boys played their guts out."

Bigfork, down 32-26 at the half, battled back to take a 49-46 lead after three periods.

Bigfork led by 12 points with two minutes left in regulation.

Wolf Point finally forced OT when Jesse Driftwood hit two free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining. Driftwood led all scorers with 33 points.

Christian Ker had a monster game for Bigfork with 32 points and eight rebounds.

Wolf Point advances to tonight's championship game versus Columbus at 8. Columbus beat Florence-Carlton in Friday's other semifinal, 50-49.

Bigfork faces Shelby in loser-out play today at 11 a.m.

Wolf Point 17 15 14 24 11 - 81

Bigfork 11 15 23 21 8 - 78

Wolf Point - Taylor Hanks 5-10 2-4 16, Jesse Driftwood 10-22 11-16 33, Easton Copenhaver 0-2 0-0 0, Matthew Weeks 2-5 1-2 7, Martin Weeks 1-4 0-0 2, Mechiah Zilkoski 4-7 0-0 10, Jake Bauer 5-12 3-3 13. Totals: 27-62 17-25.

Bigfork - Ian Lorang 2-5 1-2 5, Colter Trent 4-10 2-3 10, Evan Jordt 1-4 1-3 3, Travis Knoll 6-9 3-5 16, Ben Sandry 2-4 0-0 5, Christian Ker 10-23 7-7 32, Connor Coleman 1-2 0-0 3, Dillon Fraley 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 28-61 14-20.

Fouls: Wolf Point 18, Bigfork 23. Fouled out: Hanks, Lorang. 3-pointers: Hanks 4, Driftwood 2, Matthew Weeks 2, Zilkoski 2, Knoll 1, Sandry 1Ker 5, Coleman 1. Rebounds: Wolf Point 27 (Zilkoski 8, Bauer 8), Bigfork 27 (Ker 8). Assists: Wolf Point 17 (Driftwood 10), Bigfork 14 (Knoll 5). Turnovers: Wolf Point 15, Bigfork 17. Technicals: none.

------

Florence-Carlton 16 15 10 8 - 49

Columbus 12 15 14 9 - 50

Florence-Carlton - Ross Mangun 3-5 0-0 6, Ryne Baerlocher 3-4 0-0 6, Chantz Hotsinpiller 0-1 0-0 0, Jon Johnson 2-10 0-0 4, Adam Hout 1-1 0-0 2, Adam Greger 5-6 3-3 13, Quinn Smith 9-10 0-1 18. Totals: 23-37 3-4.

Columbus - Tyler Ostrum 2-3 5-5 9, Louis Faust 2-6 1-2 7, Tim Yeager 4-12 1-2 9, Tyler Roller 1-8 2-2 4, Taylor Noble 4-5 0-0 12, Austin Dayton 4-10 1-2 9, David Wolter 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 17-46 10-13.

Fouls: Florence-Carlton 17, Columbus 9. Fouled out: Mangun (FC), Hout (FC). 3-pointers: Faust 2, Noble 4. Rebounds: Florence-Carlton 30 (Smith 9), Columbus 16 (Roller 5). Assists: Florence-Carlton 20 (Baerlocher 10), Columbus 11 (Ostrum 3, Yeager 3). Turnovers: Florence-Carlton 15, Columbus 4. Technicals: none.