Bigfork bouncing back

Bigfork went undefeated on its run to the Class B state boys’ basketball championship last season, topping Columbus 71-62 in front of a packed house in Bozeman to bring the title back to the shores of Flathead Lake.

They were on top of the world, capturing their first boys basketball championship in school history after threatening the year before. Only three players were graduating, just two with major minutes.

Then came the news nobody expected.

Their coach left for another job.

Again.

Now on its third coach in three years, one of the most athletic classes of basketball players in Bigfork history is out to prove its also the most resilient.

 “I think any good team has to reinvent itself every year,” new coach Sam Tudor said. “These kids don’t rest on their laurels. They’re looking forward to it.

“It’s something that is rare.”

Kurt Paulson, now the director of operations on the men’s basketball staff at Oregon State, left the Vikings two seasons ago. Josh Downey, who led the team last season, left in what became a drawn-out fiasco in the spring.

Each time they’ve adjusted to a new coach, Bigfork has rebounded well, both on the court and off.

“Bigfork’s a program,” Tudor said. “They’ve been to state the last three years. The year before that one of our better teams didn’t make it to state.”

And just like last year, they plan on winning right away.

“We have high expectations,” Tudor said. “The coaching doesn’t really make a difference. It’s the community. They’re the ones that have reared these kids. They’ve worked hard the last 10-12 years of their lives to get to the skill level they’re at.

“The expectations are just to do what they do, which is play hard.”

Tudor, who teaches at the high school and was the junior varsity coach under then-head coach Kurt Paulson two seasons ago, has been around these kids before and knows how talented they are.

Having coached and taught much of this team before has made his transition easier.

“I have a lot of great support too, I’m really happy with my coaching staff. But (having been here) is a huge part of it. That makes things a lot easier, just on the kids.”

With a new, yet familiar, staff in place, all that’s left for the defending champs is to get back on the floor. Though there, they’re taking their time.

Bigfork, which ran into the state semifinals in football behind the athleticism of many of the Vikings’ basketball players, is still healing from some bumps and bruises suffered this fall. Starting guard Josh Sandry, one of the catalysts in last season’s run to the title, played nearly every snap for the Vikings’ football team on offense, defense and special teams.

“I knew this would be a slow start to the season,” Tudor said. “I planned for them to be playing for the state championship. It didn’t happen, but regardless they still need to rest up, they’re pretty banged up.”

As resilient as this program has been, once they shake off the rust, there’s no doubt they’ll be back among the top teams in the state. The Vikings begin their season Dec. 12 at the Tip-Of Tourney in Missoula.

“They’re confident,” Tudor said. “Their shots are a little off, but we’re fixing that. They just haven’t picked up a basketball for a little while. Athletically, we’re a pretty sound team.”