Vals meeting Blue Hawks in all-District 7-B final
Bigfork’s Braeden Gunlock pulls up for a shot in Valkyries win over Florence-Carlton in the Western B Divisional Tournament in Ronan Friday. (Jeremy Weber/Daily Inter Lake)
RONAN — It’s another all-District 7-B final for the Western B, where Bigfork and Thompson Falls advanced with semifinal wins Friday.
Bigfork (21-1) thumped Florence 59-35 in the first semifinal to get to Saturday’s championship, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at the Ronan Events Center. The Blue Hawks (16-7) downed Eureka 36-22 in the other semifinal.
It will be the third meeting this season between the finalists: Bigfork won the first two matches by 39 and 17 points.
In Friday’s loser out games Anaconda beat Missoula Loyola 58-55 and Mission handled Deer Lodge 66-47. If the Bulldogs rally to place third, they can challenge for a spot in the State B tournament on Monday.
Bigfork 59, Florence 35
Freshman Braeden Gunlock poured in 27 points for the Valkyries, who dominated the first three quarters on the way to a 54-27 lead.
Emma Berreth added 11 points and Scout Nadeau nine for Bigfork.
Kylie Kovatch and Kasidey Yeoman managed seven points each for the Falcons (12-10).
Semifinal
Bigfork 17 18 19 5 - 59
Florence 8 13 6 8 - 35
BIGFORK — Emma Berreth 11, Braeden Gunlock 27, Scout Nadeau 9, Callie Martinez 4, Ava Daveyu 6, Madison Chappuis 2.
FLORENCE — Kylie Kovatch 7, Kadisey Yeoman 7, Kobi Wood 6, Elise Schneiter 4, Gwen Reed 3, Olivia Coulter 3, Kenzy Pickering 5.
Thompson Falls 36, Eureka 22
Ellie Baxter’s 13 points led the way for the Blue Hawks, who outscored the Lions (14-8) 34-18 over the final three quarters.
Avery Burgess and Maliyah LeCoure added nine points each for the winners. Eureka was led by Jadyn Pluid’s five points.
Semifinal
Thompson Falls 2 13 11 10 - 36
Eureka 4 7 6 5 - 22
THOMPSON FALLS — Ellie Baxter 13, Avery Burgess 9, Maliyah LeCoure 9, Chesney Lowe 3, Natalie Roberts 2.
EUREKA — Remmi Stanger 4, Jadyn Pluid 5, Ixone Coteron 4, Jimena Sanchez 3, Dylan Sharp 2, Reena Truman 2, Taylor Truman 2.
Mission 66, Deer Lodge 47
Kooper Page and Madyson Currie scored 17 points each for the Bulldogs, who opened up a 17-5 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Kason Page added 15 for the winners.
Nia McClanahan’s 14 points led the Lady Wardens (3-19).
Loser out
Mission 17 22 16 11 - 66
Deer Lodge 5 15 11 16 - 47
MISSION — Kason Page 15, Kooper Page 17, Gabby Smith 5, Izzy Evans 2, Madyson Currie 17, Rowan McElderry 4, Olivia Adams 6.
DEER LODGE — Mary Hansen 11, Natalie Spring 13, Nia McClanahan 14, Taryn Lamb 7, C Gravely 3.
Anaconda 58, Loyola 55
Makena Patrick’s 18 points led three Anaconda players in double figures; Kennedy McCorkle scored a game-high 19 for the Breakers (13-7).
Loser out
Anaconda 12 15 11 20 - 58
Loyola 10 14 13 16 - 55
ANACONDA — Cara DeMarois 3, Sami Johnson 4, Makena Patrick 18, Madison King 2, Maniyah Lunceford 10, Kora Kelly 8, Alyssa Peterson 13.
MISSOULA LOYOLA — Natalie Clevenger 16, Ora Lindauer 8, Kennedy McCorkle 19, Charlotte Cummings 11, Evelyn Demblans 1.