Bigfork trips Whitefish in basketball

BIGFORK - Trailing at one point by eight points, the No. 5 Bigfork boys came all the way back to eke out a win against visiting Whitefish on Thursday, 50-49.

Whitefish had a chance to send the game into overtime with just 2.4 seconds on the clock, but Bulldog guard Cooper Olson missed the second of two free throws as the Vikings (12-2) were able to hold on for the victory.

The tide turned after halftime, when Vikings guards Austin Jordt and Ian Lorang hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the third quarter to tie it at 30-30. Jordt took the ball to the hole on the next possession to give the Vikings their first lead since early in the second quarter.

Jordt had a huge third quarter, scoring nine points and showing off some nifty moves along the baseline to score between the tall inside defenders for the Bulldogs. On one play he fooled two defenders with a nice hesitation dribble before slicing in for a layup, then returned on the next possession to get the Whitefish center off his feet with a nice up fake on the baseline, then going up for the easy layin.

"He had a nice game," Bigfork coach Kurt Paulson said. "He's improving and his defense is improving. He's one of the best point guards in the state right now."

Yet despite the hot shooting by the Vikes, Whitefish's deep shooting kept it close, as they took a 39-38 lead into the final quarter.

After four quick points by the Vikings gave Bigfork a 42-39 lead a minute into the fourth, Bulldog sharp-shooter Gage Vasquez hit a 3 that tied the game and ratcheted up the tension in the building.

The two teams traded free throws on the next few possessions when Bigfork big man Jackson Boese scored on a baby hook that gave the Vikings a three-point lead at 47-44 with 3:07 to play.

The two teams traded buckets again as each team picked up the defensive intensity. Bigfork brought full-court pressure and looked to get a break when reserve wingman Chris Landon, who played spectacular defense all night, picked off an outlet pass to regain possession for the Vikings and bleed some clock.

But for all of the momentum Bigfork had, they missed a number of chances to ice the game.

Boese missed a free throw with a minute to play, and after a driving layup by Whitefish's Christopher Forrest cut the lead to one point at 49-48, Landon missed the backend of a pair of free throws that would have stretched the lead to three.

Bigfork's Cody Dopps pulled down the missed free throw with less than 20 seconds left, but even after a timeout to draw up a play, the Vikings missed a pair of close looks on the baseline that would have iced it for good.

"We had a chance on a baseline out of bounds play, we turned it over," Paulson said. "We had some free throws that we didn't hit. With all that our defense was tough when it counted and we were fortunate to come out because they very easily could have tied it."

Whitefish took advantage of the situation, but nearly fumbled the ball away before being able to tie it up and regain possession with 6.2 seconds left in the game.

The Bulldog's Jace Kalbfleisch inbounded the ball to Olson, who wisely cut through the lane for a shot when he was fouled with just 2.4 seconds on the clock, sending him to the free-throw line. Olson hit his first shot, sucking the air out of the building, but missed on the second, ending the game.

"Cooper's a great kid and a hard-nosed competitor," Paulson said. "He makes that free throw 19 of 20 times. We're just fortunate he missed the one. I feel for him."

The game opened with neither team able to drop open shots, with many looks rolling in and out. The teams were tied 8-8 after the first quarter.

Whitefish took control in the second quarter, going on a 15-6 run that saw the Bulldogs take a nine-point lead with 2:37 to play in the half. Bigfork closed the second on a 6-2 run to trail just 28-23 at the break.

"They were out-hustling us in the first half," Paulson said. "They had a couple of loose-ball rebounds off 3-pointers, long rebounds. I called a timeout in the first quarter, got after it a little bit. In the second half we got the long, tough rebounds, I thought that was the difference really."

Whitefish is now 6-6 overall and hosts Frenchtown tonight. Bigfork is off until Thursday when they host Class A No. 4 Columbia Falls.

Whitefish 8 20 11 10 - 49

Bigfork 8 15 15 12 - 50

WHITEFISH - Christopher Forrest 5, Jake Slaybaugh 14, Gage Vasquez 13, Cooper Olson 7, Jace Kalbfleisch 4, Logan Harwood 2, Bryce Wehrli 4.

BIGFORK - Austin Jordt 14, Ian Lorang 8, Cody Dopps 4, Connor Coleman 2, Dillon Fraley 1, Chris Landon 7, Jackson Boese 10, Colter Trent 4.

Columbia Falls 73, Libby 25

COLUMBIA FALLS - Fourth-ranked Columbia Falls cruised past Libby in Northwestern A play.

Anthony Correa's 16 points led the way for theWildcats. Teammate Austin Barth totaled 13 points and seven rebounds.

Parker Johnson chipped in with 13 points and Luke Kazlauskas added 12 for Columbia Falls (5-0, 10-3).

Libby falls to 0-4, 2-9.

No other information was available.

Stevensville 80,

Polson 44

STEVENSVILLE - Third-ranked Stevensville had no trouble with Polson, whipping the Pirates by 36 points.

Austin Kelling and Josh Schultz topped the Stevensville (10-1) attack with 17 points each.

Polson (6-6) was led by Zack Camel, 16 points, and Tyler Krell, 15.

Polson 10 10 17 7 - 44

Stevensville 19 19 27 15 - 80

POLSON - Tyler Krell 15, Vince DiGiallonardo 3, Will Davey 2, Ian Lambeer 2, Zack Camel 16, Cody Fischer 4, Eric Williamson 1, Riley Sampsan 1.

STEVENSVILLE - Jared Schultz 10, Josh Lords 2, Austin Kelling 17, Austin Lords 2, Zach Gavlak 10, Jesse Sims 16, Josh Schultz 17, Tyler Gavlak 2, Kaden Beller 4.