State B girls: Vals rally, top Baker 52-38
Bigfork’s Braeden Gunlock rises above the Baker defense for two of her game-high 18 points in the Valkyries’ 52-38 win over the Spartans in the first round of the State B Basketball Tournament in Great Falls on Thursday, March 9. (Jeremy Weber/Daily Inter Lake)
GREAT FALLS — The Bigfork Valkyries were tested Thursday, and the good news is they passed.
A 14-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters carried the unbeaten Vals past Baker 52-38 at the State B girls basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena.
Braeden Gunlock scored a game-high 18 points to lead Bigfork (24-0) into Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal against Huntley Project (22-2). The Red Devils thumped Wolf Point 70-28 in Thursday’s first game.
Baker (20-5) will battle Wolf Point (16-9) in a loser-out game at noon.
Bigfork 52, Baker 38
The Vals trailed at halftime 24-23, and led just 28-27 after Hope Gonsioroski scored inside for Baker at 4:45 of the third quarter.
The Spartans wouldn’t score again for almost eight minutes. A Jordt back-cut started the pivotal surge, which figured six different Vals: Scout Nadeau had had a drive, Jordt got a fast-break bucket and freshman Paeten Gunlock scored her only basket to make it 36-27 after three quarters.
Braeden Gunlock’s put-back started the fourth quarter; Gambala’s fast-break basket and Madison Chappuis’ layup made it 42-27 with 6:00 left in the game.
Baker would close to 44-34, but then Bigfork sandwiched five free throws around a dish to Chappuis for 2, and Bigfork led 51-34 with 1:11 remaining.
Defense was huge: In a turnover-filled game, Bigfork came up with 22 steals – eight by Paeten Gunlock and six more from her sister – and forced 32 turnovers.
Freshman Maddie O’Connor was held to seven points and six rebounds for Baker, though she came up with six steals. Gonsioroski led the Spartans with 11 points.
Bigfork 15 6 15 16 - 52
Baker 14 8 5 11 - 38
BIGFORK — Madison Chappuis 3-7 0-0 7, Scout Nadeau 6-10 0-0 12, Ava Davey 2-6 1-3 5, Braeden Gunlock 5-9 8-11 18, Paeten Gunlock 1-10 0-4 2, Callie Gembala 2-3 0-0 4, Ellie Jordt 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 21-50 9-18 52.
BAKER — Hope Gonsioroski 5-7 1-1 11, Kyal Haldney 2-4 1-4 5, Eve Uecker 2-5 2-3 7, Harlee Graham 0-5 1-2 1, Madison O’Connor 2-16 2-4 7, Avery O’Connor 2-7 0-0 5, Saraya Afrank 1-2 0-0 2, Emily Enos 0-5 0-0 0, Jocelyn Graham 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 14-53 7-14 38.
3-point goals — Bigfork 1-8 (Chappuis 1-1), Baker 3-22 (Uecker 1-3, A. O’Connor 1-5, M. O’Connor 1-7). Rebounds — Bigfork 29 (B. Gunlock 11), Baker 4 35 (M. O’Connor 7). Fouls — Bigfork 15, Baker 19. Fouled out — M. O’Connor. Blocks — Bigfork 3 (3 with 1), Baker 1. Steals — Bigfork 22 (P. Gunlock 8), Baker 10 (M. O’Connor 6). Turnovers — Bigfork 21, Baker 32.
Huntley Project 70, Wolf Point 28
Paige Lofing scored 25 points for the Red Devils, who ran out to a 34-14 halftime lead.
Lily Zimmer added 13 points for the winners.
Sierra Hamilton had 16 points for the Wolves.
Malta 45, Columbus 38
Addy Andrson scored a game-high 21 points for the M’ettes, while teammate Allison Kunze added nine points and nine rebounds.
Izzy Gurie has 12 points to lead the Cougars, to go with nine rebounds.