BOYS BASKETBALL: Bigfork fends off feisty Florence, wins divisional title

Bigfork outlasted a physical Florence squad, avenging its only loss of the season and claiming the Western B divisional championship with a 65-54 victory on Saturday at Flathead High School.

The Vikings stood toe to toe with a large Florence squad and imposed their will early on. Bigfork held the Falcons scoreless for more than five minutes in the first quarter and closed the period on a 9-2 run.

Florence big man Cody Liles scored the first seven points of the second quarter for the Falcons, narrowing the Bigfork lead to 15-12.

Then the Vikings took off.

Bigfork went on a 13-0 run, started by a 3-pointer from senior Joseph Potkonjak and finished by another long ball, from senior Adam Jordt. By the time Florence scored again, on a pair of free throws with less than two minutes to play, the Vikings led 28-14 and were in full control of the game.

“The game plan was to man up and show them that we have five guys that can match up with their five guys and pound you ’til the end,” Bigfork senior forward Jon Landon said.

“We had to come out a lot stronger. When we came out earlier this year in Florence we came out lollygagging. This game we had to come out strong and show them who we are.”

Bigfork maintained the lead after half, holding a 41-23 advantage with 3:25 left in the third quarter, but began to run into foul trouble.

Jordt and Landon each picked up their fourth foul by the midway point of the third, and had to head to the bench.

Florence began to chew away at the big lead with the pair on the bench, cutting the deficit to 11 points with a minute left in the third, but then found its own foul trouble. Liles and Falcons starters Levi Clagett and Marcus Zeiler each picked up a fourth foul before the close of the quarter, with Bigfork cashing in to lead 46-32 entering the fourth.

With both teams playing on the edge, Florence found a rhythm in the fourth. The Falcons leaned on Clagett and forward Jake Christopherson, who teamed up to cut the Bigfork lead to two possessions, 51-46 with 3:25 to play.

Bigfork freshman Anders Epperly ended the drought for the Vikings, scoring a pair of free throws with three minutes to play.

Landon put the nail in the coffin on the next trip down the floor, ripping away an offensive rebound from a pair of Florence defeners and going up strong for a putback and a foul. He sunk the ensuing free throw to give Bigfork a 10 point lead again.

The Vikings fought through the Florence press in the final two minutes to hold off any rally, closing out the game from the free-throw line.

“It’s such a fun rivalry between Bigfork and Florence, between the two districts, we knew it was going to be a good game,” Bigfork head coach Sam Tudor said.

“We had a 16-point cushion and it never felt safe. I think there were 12 seconds left and I’m still biting my nails. I trust those boys to do the right thing.”

Potkonjak led Bigfork with 17 points and Landon had 13 points and nine rebounds. Epperly had 12 points and Jordt 10 points in a ballanced attack for the Vikings.

Clagett had 17 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the final minute of play. Christopherson scored 10 points for the Falcons.

“We were locked in,” Tudor said.

“I think that’s a good way to put it. You could see it in their faces. There was something a little bit different about us. We’re ready for that next level. Both those teams will turn a few heads at state.”

Bigfork carries the West’s top seed into the state tournament, which will take place on March 11-12 in Butte. The Vikings will open the tournament against the South’s third seed. The Southern B will hold its divisional tournament next weekend in Billings.

Florence 7 10 15 22 — 54

Bigfork 9 21 16 19 — 65

FLORENCE — Bo Zeiler 7, Marcus Zeiler 9, Levi Clagett 15, Cody Liles 11, Jake Christopherson 10, Dan Mickelson 2.

BIGFORK — Anders Epperly 12, Adam Jordt 10, Joseph Potkonjak 17, Jonathan Landon 13, Colton Reichenbauch 2, George Gibson 7, Garrett Beville 4.

Third Place

Loyola Sacred Heart 57, Thompson Falls 56

Loyola’s Parker Davis hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds remaining to lift the Rams into the state tournament with a win over Thompson Falls.

Davis finished with a game-high 14 points to lead Loyola, which went back and forth with Thompson Falls all game. Strother Cooper added 12 points for the Rams.

Trais Hoisington had 12 points and Tanner Laws 11 points to lead Thompson Falls.

T. Falls 6 18 14 18 — 56

Loyola 11 17 11 18 — 57

THOMPSON FALLS — McKenzie Holt 3, Dylan Beckman 5, Tanner Laws 11, Joe Lundberg 8, Trais Hoisington 12, Tyler Riffle 5.

LOYOLA SACRED HEART — Noah Pohlman 6, David Koppang 6, Strother Cooper 12, Frank Zheng 2, Fisher Richardson 6, Ryan McHugh 7, Parker Davis 14, Lochlin Ermatinger 4.

Loser-out

Thompson Falls 64, Libby 42

Libby fell short of a trip to the state tournament in its first season Class B, as Thompson Falls took control in the second quarter to advance to the consolation final.

The Blue Hawks outscored Libby 39-16 in the second and third quarters, running away with what was building to be a close game early.

Ryggs Johnston had 12 points and Jason Brant 11 points to lead Libby.

Missoula Loyola beat Deer Lodge 59-47 in the other consolation semifinal.

T. Falls 10 19 20 15 — 64

Libby 11 5 11 15 — 42

THOMPSON FALLS — Dylan Beckman 6, Tanner Laws 8, Corey Tessier 3, Josh Wolfekuhl 1, Joe Lundberg 5, Trais Hoisington 24, Joe Frields 8, Danny Hosington 4, Tyler Riffle 5.

LIBBY — Jonny Cielak 6, Ryggs Johnston 12, Gabe Peck 2, Anthony Johnson 7, Jason Brant 11, Eirk Lauer 4.

Loyola Sacred Heart 59, Deer Lodge 47

D. Lodge 9 11 13 14 — 47

Loyola 13 13 16 17 — 59

DEER LODGE — Cade Benjamin 17, Koby Owens 5, Brandon Porter 17, Kaehl Lowery 8.

LOYOLA SACRED HEART — Noah Pohlman 5, David Koppang 3, Strother Cooper 2, Parker Davis 21, Lochlin Ermatinger 10, Kellen Round 5, Frank Zheng 3, Fisher Richardson 2, Ryan McHugh 8.