Vals, Bluehawks surge into 7-B girls finale

EUREKA — Behind 15 first-half points from Braeden Gunlock the Bigfork Valkyries opened up a 41-8 lead, then coasted to a 68-8 win in the semifinals of the District 7-B girls basketball tournament Friday.

Gunlock finished with 19 points for the Vals (19-0), who advanced to the championship game Saturday at 7 p.m. against Thompson Falls. The Bluehawks beat Mission 53-34 in the late semifinal.

Scout Nadeau was next in Bigfork with nine points.

Dylan Sharp scored six points for Eureka (5-13), which fell into the consolation bracket

Eureka 2 6 0 0 - 8

Bigfork 19 22 17 10 - 68

EUREKA — Dylan Sharp 6, Bryn Van Orden 2.

BIGFORK — Madison Chappuis 7, Paeten Gunlock 8, Ava Davey 4, Braeden Gunlock 19, Scout Nadeau 9, Ellie Jordt 7, Keni Wade 7, Anika Ranson 4, Afton Lambrecht 3.

Thompson Falls 53, Mission 34

EUREKA — Ellie Baxter scored 16 points, Avery Burgess added 12 and the Thompson Falls Bluehawks took command in the second quarter of the late semifinal.

Baxter had seven points in the second quarter for Thompson Falls (13-4), and hit her team’s lone 3-pointer in the third.

Cora Matt led Mission (14-5) with eight points.

T-Falls 15 12 13 13 - 53

Mission 11 3 8 12 - 34

THOMPSON FALLS — Ellie Baxter 5 5-6 16, Natalie Roberts 7, Chesney Lowe 2, Gabi Hannum 7, Avery Burgess 12, Solveig Nygaard 4, Dalainy Gerhard 2, Addi Pardee 2, Alivia McCormick 1.

MISSION — Kason Page 7, Izzy Evans 1, Kooper Page 2, Cora Matt 8, Ellanah Flatlip 2, Kieran Incashola 2, Brooklyn McClure 2, Leslia Staps 6, Madison Incashola 4.

NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly Friday's losers advanced to Saturday's third-place game. They fell into Saturday morning's loser-out contests.