Bigfork boys trip Columbia Falls

BIGFORK — Columbia Falls gave the Bigfork boys their toughest game of the season, leading with less than five minutes to play before the top-ranked team in Class B showed its muscle, powering its way to a 50-45 nonconference basketball victory on Thursday. 

The Vikings (15-0), used their size to their advantage down the stretch, getting inside the Class A No. 4 Wildcats (10-4) zone defense for five buckets in the paint in the final four minutes to erase a four-point deficit and remain undefeated.

Columbia Falls trailed for most of the game, but gave the Vikings its best shot in the second half, cutting an eight-point deficit to one by the close of the third quarter. On their first possession of the fourth, the Wildcats took a share of the lead for the first time since the first quarter as Jayce Fagerland banked in a 3-pointer to tie the game at 33-33. The ’Cats scored their next two times down the floor, taking a 37-33 lead with 5:31 to play, their largest lead of the game and the latest Bigfork has trailed in a game this season. 

The Vikings didn’t take much time to respond. They started from deep, as sophomore wing Jon Landon sunk a 3 from the top of the key and senior Christian Evans hit another on a designed play the next trip down the floor, tying the game at 39-39 and re-energizing the Bigfork squad. 

“Had we missed those, I don’t know how we would have responded,” Bigfork coach Josh Downey said. “We hit those and everyone’s fired up and they play a little harder on defense.”

Bigfork held the Wildcats to one field goal in the final five minutes, a putback from sophomore Grant Wallace with 22 seconds left, asserting its dominance in the lane down the stretch to extend its lead. Twice, the Vikings kicked out rebounds to score on the fast break, and a baseline cut to the hoop by Landon with 1:21 left ended with a basket and a foul, giving Bigfork a 50-43 lead. 

Landon ended the game with an exclamation point, blocking a 3-point attempt by the Wildcats’ Ty Morgan to finish any hope of a late rally. 

“I was proud of them,” Downey said. “We need close games like this, because I imagine we’re going to run into some in the tournament. 

“Yesterday was our first bad practice. I was really worried about it coming in, to see what these guys would respond like. When it’s time, and we need a basket, guys are stepping up.”

Morgan finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Columbia Falls, getting loose in a normally stingy Bigfork defense. Jared Trinastich finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats.

“This game we lost (Morgan) three or four times,” Downey said. “That hurt us letting those guys shoot.”

Evans led Bigfork with 19 points and 12 rebounds, consistently getting inside on a Columbia Falls team that matches up well against the Vikings size up front.

“They’re a solid team,” Evans said. “They always play well against us. They’re the biggest team we play. It’s really tough going up against them.”

Ryder Trent had 10 points and Cameron Nissen had six points and 10 rebounds for the Vikings, who outrebounded Columbia Falls 36-18.

“Usually we come out of a game feeling like we lost,” Downey said. “Tonight, I think they feel like they won.”

Bigfork is back on the court tonight to host Troy. Columbia Falls heads to Polson on Saturday for a conference game. 

Columbia Falls891315—45

Bigfork1210919—50

COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 2, Grant Wallace 4, Jared Trinastich 10, Jayce Fagerland 7, Trevor Houston 2, Ty Morgan 20. 

BIGFORK — Cameron Nissen 6, Christian Evans 19, Isaac Martel 3, Jon Landon 8, Josh Sandry 4, Ryder Trent 10.