Basketball: Bigfork beats C-Falls, stays perfect

COLUMBIA FALLS — Bigfork may have been the smaller school but they certainly weren’t the smaller team in a matchup of Valley heavyweights on Saturday night. The Vikings (8-0) used their size to muscle past Columbia Falls (5-2) 53-42 in a nonconference boys basketball game. 

Bigfork used its height and length — notably 6-foot-7 center Christian Evans and 6-2 forward Josh Sandry — to clean up on the boards early, pulling in seven offensive rebounds in the first half to build a nine-point lead midway through the second quarter. 

Evans was nearly unguardable in the post, scoring 10 of his 13 first-half points in the paint, expertly handling the pressure from Columbia Falls’ tight zone defense. Evans finished with a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds.

“(Evans) was great,” Bigfork coach Josh Downey said. “It’s the guys knowing that he needs to touch the ball, not necessarily what we draw up.”

Columbia Falls scored the first five points of the second half to cut the Bigfork lead to 21-18, but went cold from the field scoring just one field goal in the next six minutes of game time. Bigfork went on a 13-3 run in that stretch to take its biggest lead of the contest, a 13-point advantage at 34-21 with a minute to play in the third quarter.

The Vikings’ length prevented the Wildcats from getting into an offensive flow, getting into passing lanes and blocking four shots, holding Columbia Falls to 36 percent shooting in the game. 

“We couldn’t get the shots to go tonight, but a lot of that goes to Bigfork’s defense and Bigfork’s athleticism and length,” Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said. “They gave us problems. It took it three and a half quarters to adjust to it.”

Columbia Falls made a run in the fourth quarter to close the gap, turning to a full-court press to disrupt Bigfork in transition. The Wildcats also went inside, picking up fouls and getting to the free-throw line, where they were able to do some damage. 

Jared Trinastich and Ty Morgan combined to score the Wildcats’ first 12 points of the fourth, cutting the Bigfork lead to 42-34 with 2:43 to play. 

Bigfork countered quickly, with Isaac Martel hitting his third 3-pointer of the game. The Vikings followed a pair of Columbia Falls free throws by passing over the press and finding a swooping Sandry, who hit a layup while being fouled, putting Bigfork in the bonus before sinking the ensuing free throw to extend the lead back to 12. 

“We had our backs against the wall,” Finberg said.

“We had one hope to get back in it, that was to turn the game into a scramble situation. We went four small guards and went full-court press. Offensively that helped us a bit, but defensively when you’re in that situation you’re out of position a lot. Bigfork, obviously, (took advantage of that).”

Sandry finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for Bigfork.

Trinastich scored 14 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, and had five rebounds to lead Columbia Falls. Morgan had 12 points.

“We beat every team we’re supposed to beat,” Downey said. 

“This is a game I’m not sure other people think we’re supposed to win.

“These guys took care of the ball so well ... They did that tonight. They do exactly what I’ve asked them to do and then some.”

Bigfork plays next at Thompson Falls on Thursday. 

Columbia Falls is also on the road Thursday, playing Glacier.

Bigfork10111319—53

Columbia Falls211920—42

BIGFORK — Christian Evans 28, Josh Sandry 14, Isaac Martel 9, Adam Jordt 2. 

COLUMBIA FALLS — Jared Trinastich 14, Ty Morgan 12, Alex Presnell 5, Trevor Houston 5, Nakia Alexander 3, Jayce Fagerland 2, Mason Gedlaman 1. 

Rebounds — Bigfork 30 (Evans 10, Sandry 8), Columbia Falls 19 (Trinastich 5).