Grende retires as Bigfork head girls basketball coach
Bigfork coach Jami Grende reacts to a fourth-quarter foul call against the Valkyries' Jaime Berg during a semifinal matchup with Three Forks in the 2018 State Class B Girls' Basketball Tournament at the Adams Center in Missoula on Friday, March 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Jami Grende’s successful run as head coach of the Bigfork girls basketball program is over.
Grende turned in her resignation to Bigfork activities director Matt Porrovecchio last month.
“I always told the team family was the No. 1 priority,” she said.
“I just kind of needed to evaluate that, focus on my family, too. Basketball takes a lot of time. It’s a grind.”
Grende compiled an impressive record of 86 win, 37 losses during her five years as head coach. Bigfork advanced to state three times, falling in the semifinals in 2018 to Three Forks, who went on to win state.
“Jami poured her heart into all aspects of the program,” Porrovecchio said.
“Bigfork was lucky to have her at the helm as long as we did. She was a real pleasure to work with.”
Bigfork won two divisional titles with Grende on the bench, three district crowns and was the 7B regular-season champion four times.
Her daughter Rakiah, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, has signed with Carroll College for basketball and her son Gabe will be a junior on the Bigfork basketball team next season.
Rakiah’s sophomore season was cut short because of a cancerous teratoma tumor. After a lengthy recovery, Rakiah was back on the court to finish her prep career.
“It was hard to come back when you daughter was dealt a tough hand,” Jami said.
“My heart wasn’t into it after that diagnosis. There is more to life than basketball.”
Not coaching will now afford her the chance to watch her son and daughter play.
“The high point definitely was our last trip to state,” she said.
“We had been there two times prior and had never won a game. Then making it to the semifinal game, we had a shot at winning state. The girls had it in them. We just had a lot of calls that didn’t go our way and that stung a little bit. I know they were capable of bringing home the big one.
“The girls last year were fun, excited, worked hard and they had goals,” she continued.
“I’ll miss the trips with the girls. It was fun to see their progression during the season.”