Bigfork boys, girls roll into divisional play

The Bigfork boys and girls basketball squads hope to avoid the challenge game scenario this year as the Western B divisional tournament opens today at the Ronan Event Center.

Both teams were denied a state trip a year ago because of Monday challenge games, two days after the regular divisional ended.

Loyola defeated Bigfork 62-55 while Florence tripped Bigfork 65-59 to earn both schools the No. 2 seed from the Western divisional at the state tournament.

Challenge games are necessary if the two teams did not play each other during the tournament. Divisional winners and runners-up advance to state.

The Bigfork boys are riding high this season, sporting an 18-0 record while the Bigfork girls are soaring as well at 17-1. Both teams are first seeds from District 7B for the divisional.

The Bigfork boys kick things off at 8 a.m. versus Deer Lodge, the fourth seed from 6B.

The Bigfork girls place Anaconda, the fourth seed from 6B, at 7:20 p.m.

Anaconda slipped by Loyola in the boys title game in 2017, 61-60, while Ronan topped Florence 64-55.

Ronan has moved up to Class A.

Western B divisional tournament

Thursday-Saturday At Ronan Event Center

First Round

Thursday

Boys

8 a.m. — Bigfork vs. Deer Lodge

9:40 a.m. — Eureka vs. Anaconda

4 p.m. — Missoula Loyola vs. Troy

5:40 p.m. — Florence vs. Thompson Falls

Girls

11:20 a.m. — Florence vs. Thompson Falls

1 p.m. — Deer Lodge vs. Eureka

7:20 p.m. — Bigfork vs. Anaconda

9 p.m. — Troy vs. Missoula Loyola