Vikings bounce Manhattan

BOZEMAN — The start could have been better but it’s the finish that mattered for the Bigfork Vikings at the State A basketball tournament Thursday.

Bigfork used a big second half to prevail 55-46 over Manhattan to advance to the semifinals.

“We played a lot better in the second half,” Bigfork coach John Hollow said. “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well tonight but sometimes that’s expected when you have a young team. Twelve of the 13 guys have never played in a state tournament before. I thought they played well for the circumstances.”

A couple of big shots down the stretch, including a 3-pointer from Bryce Gilliard, were key for the Vikings in an otherwise tough defensive battle.

The game was tied 20-20 at the half before Bigfork started to build a lead in the third frame. But it was Gilliard’s trey that really helped the Vikings turn up the heat.

"He (Bryce) bit a big one in the fourth, put us up two possessions and we kind of never looked back from there,” Hollow said.

In addition to that trey, Gilliard finished with 10 points, including three free-throw makes.

Levi Taylor led the charge for the Vikings with a 17-point performance that included drawing six fouls. Taylor went 8-for-11 at the charity stripe and though he fouled out and only played 18 minutes, his time was clearly well spent.

“Levi Taylor had a really good game for us,” Hollow noted. “He was a beast out there tonight.”

Colin Wade added eight points and Isak Epperly had six.

Manhattan’s leading scorer was Markus Fenno with 14 points. Jadon Pierce and Evan Douma each added nine.

Bigfork’s semifinal game is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. today against Three Forks.

Bigfork 13 7 18 17 — 55

Manhattan 8 12 13 13 — 46

BIGFORK — Levi Taylor 4-6 8-11 17, Bryce Gilliard 3-7 3-4 10, Isak Epperly 2-8 2-5 6, Colin Wade 2-7 3-4 8, Nick Walker 2-3 0-0 4, Wyatt Johnson 1-1 0-1 2, Eli Thorness 1-4 0-0 2, Cole Knopik 0-3 2-2 2, George Brown 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 16-42 20-29 55.

MANHATTAN — Jadon Pierce 3-4 1-2 9, Evan Douma 1-8, 7-10 9, Corban Johnson 2-5 0-0 4, Wyatt Jones 1-5 1-2 3, Markus Fenno 5-10 0-0 14, Callin Fenno 2-5 1-3 7. Totals 14-37 10-17 46.

3-point goals — Bigfork 3-14 (Epperly 0-1, Taylor 1-1, Gilliard 1-5, Wade 1-4, Thorness 0-1, Knopik 0-2), Manhattan 8-13 (Pierce 2-3, Johnson 0-1, Jones 0-1, M. Fenno 4-5, C. Fenno 2-3). Rebounds — Bigfork 29 (Epperly 4, Taylor 8, Gilliard 6, Wade 2, Walker 4, Thorness 2), Manhattan 23 (Pierce 6, Douma 9, Johnson 4, Jones 2, M. Fenno 2). Fouls — Bigfork 18, Manhattan 18. Fouled out — Taylor. Blocks — Bigfork 3, Manhattan 4. Steals — Bigfork 3 (Epperly 1, Gilliard 1, Johnson 1), Manhattan 2 (Johnson 1, C. Fenno 1). Turnovers — Bigfork 4, Manhattan 9.

Harlem 63, Eureka 61 OT

Teagan Levaldo hit a 15-footer as time ran down in overtime to lift the Wildcats to a 6361 win over Eureka on Thursday.

Eureka had a 61-58 lead after Gavin Bates hit two free throws with 32 seconds left.

Harlem worked the clock before Levando knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner with 5 seconds left. Eureka’s ensuing inbounds pass was tipped away and came to Levaldo at the top of the lane. His shot caromed around and in.

RJ Ramone scored 17 points for Harlem. Caleb Cole had 13, including a put-back that tied the game with 38 seconds left in regulation and forced OT.

Bates had 29 points, including three 3-pointers, and 11 rebounds for the Lions. Carson Komac came up with 12 points and eight boards, and Danny Dunn had nine points and eight rebounds.

The Lions face Shelby in a loser-out game set for 1:30 p.m. today.