Lions, Vikings to battle for Western B crown

RONAN — Those old rivals, Bigfork and Eureka, are going to battle for the Western B boys basketball crown tonight, after both picked up semifinal wins Friday at the Ronan Events Center.

Bigfork used a late first-half surge to take command in a 62-49 win over Missoula Loyola; Gavin Bates poured in 23 points to help Eureka knock off Florence 56-51.

Bigfork is 14-8 and a regular at the State B, which this year is at Breeden Field House in Bozeman, having last gone in 2019. Eureka (12-11) hasn’t been to State since 1995.

In the morning loser-outs Mission beat Arlee 65-57 and Thompson Falls ousted Deer Lodge, 53-43.

With Loyola and Florence losing, if either the Bulldogs or Blue Hawks take third there will be a Monday challenge game. Mission last made the State B in 2006.

Eureka 56, Florence 51

The Lions built a 41-24 third-quarter lead before Florence upped its full-court pressure and came charging back, scoring the last nine points of the third quarter — Blake Shoupe’s drive cut the gap to 43-35 — and starting the fourth with a basket from Patrick Duchien.

Bates helped the Lions with nine fourth-quarter points. His basket off an offensive rebound put Eureka up 50-44 with 3:58 left.

After Jace Pederson made a three for Florence, the Falcons had a couple chances to tie before Bates made a steal, was fouled, and hit two free throws to make it 52-47 with 1:08 left.

Florence’s last gasp came when Shoupe missed a game-tying three with 19 seconds remaining. Bates rebounded and his free throw made it a two-possession game.

Joey Kindel added 12 points for Eureka. Beau Neal led the Falcons with 18, and Shoupe had 13.

Semifinal

Florence 11 11 14 15 - 51

Eureka 17 18 8 13 - 56

FLORENCE — Beau Neal 18, Caden Zaluski 9, Blake Shoupe 13, Jace Pederson 7, Patrick Duchien 4.

EUREKA — Joey Kindel 12, Dan Dunn 9, Carson Komac 5, Caleb Utter 1, Gavin Bates 23, Tristan Butts 2, Trent Truman 4.

Bigfork 62, Loyola 49

The Vikings heated up from the 3-point arc in the final 2:00 of the first half, going on a 13-0 run for a 30-21 lead.

Isak Epperly and Colin Wade scored 14 points each for Bigfork, and Nick Walker checked with 12.

The Rams cut the gap to three in the third quarter before Bigfork pushed the lead back to 47-38 going to the fourth. Reynolds Johnston led Loyola (8-11) with a game-high 19 points.

Semifinal

Loyola 12 9 17 11 - 49

Bigfork 13 17 17 15 - 62

MISSOULA LOYOLA — Reynolds Johnston 19, Ethan Stack 9, Raef Konzen 7, Jack Fines 5, Declan Harrington 4, Clayton Ogilvie 4, Talen Reynolds 1.

BIGFORK — Wyatt Johnson 2, Isak Epperly 14, Colin Wade 14, Nick Walker 12, Levi Taylor 1, Bryce Gilliard 7, Cole Knopik 7, Eli Thorness 2, George Brown 3.

Mission 65, Arlee 57

Jadence Peone hit six 3-pointers on the way to 22 points for Mission, which lost all of a 40-26 halftime lead but was able to put Arlee away in the fourth quarter.

Zoran LaFrombois scored 20 points for the Bulldogs, and Ross McPherson chipped in 12.

Levi Fullerton led Arlee with 22 points and Benny Harlow added 13. The Warriors ended up 11-11.

Mission (18-4) plays Florence in another elimination game at 9 a.m. at Ronan’s old high school gym.

Loser out

Mission 16 24 9 16 - 65

Arlee 15 11 24 7 - 57

MISSION — Jadence Peone 22, Zoran LaFrombois 20, Ross McPherson 12, Kellen McClure 2, Cederick McDonald 5, Justin Brown 1.

ARLEE — Levi Fullerton 22, Benny Harlow 13, Kendall O’Neill 5, Dallas Swab 8, Jake Knoll 4, Payton Mays 2, Ethan Fiddler 3.

Thompson Falls 53, Deer Lodge 43

Jesse Claridge’s 25 points led the way for the Blue Hawks, who pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Breck Ferris and Bryson LeCourse added eight points each for Thompson Falls, while Logan Nicholson poured in 25 for Deer Lodge (4-18).

The Blue Hawks (13-11) face Loyola at 9 a.m. to get to the consolation game.

Loser out

Deer Lodge 6 11 14 12 - 43

Thompson Falls 12 15 8 18 - 53

DEER LODGE — Logan Nicholson 25, Alex Becker 6, Ripley Ford 5, Eli Hathaway 4, Tucker West 3.

THOMPSON FALLS — Jesse Claridge 25, Breck Ferris 8, Bryson LeCoure 8, Nathan Schraeder 7, Josh Wilhite 4, Braxton Dorscher 1.