Final shot for Braeden Gunlock

BIGFORK — For the last four years the success of the Bigfork Valkyries girls basketball program has been synonymous with one name, Gunlock.

Braeden and Paeten are the team’s top two scorers, and they are led by head coach Courtnee Gunlock, the mother of the two.  

Braeden is a 4-year starter, who took the court as a freshman two years after Courtnee was promoted to head coach. In sister Paeten’s first year on the team, Bigfork won the state title in Class B, the first in the program’s history. It capped an undefeated season. 

After moving up to Class A last season, Bigfork found themselves in another state title game against Billings Central: They fell 41-38 and have been working all season to redeem that loss. 

“The game against Billings last year showed us a lot about ourselves and how we don’t like to lose, especially in big games like that,” Braeden said. “Because of that, I think it has made us hungrier this year.” 

And for Braeden, this is her last shot to lead the program to their first Class A title, another mark on her long list of accolades.  

“Braeden and the other two seniors, Ava (Davey) and Keni (Wade) have set a precedence for this school that’s never been done before,” Courtnee Gunlock said last Tuesday. “If we win tonight, they have never lost a game at home ever.” 

They did win, 67-13 over Whitefish on Senior Night where Paeten was overcome with emotion, knowing her time playing ball with her big sister was close to an end. 

“Braeden has been a huge role model for me growing up and has been so inspiring. I think I became the player I am today because of her,” Paeten said.  

Now in her third year with the program, Paeten has increased her scoring output in every season and is second in league scoring at 17 points per game, behind her sister’s 21.2 average. Paeten also leads the team in steals and assists, stats her sister loves. 

“I am never going to forget what it has been like playing alongside my sister,” Braeden said. “We definitely have fought but she has been my best friend and my favorite teammate on the court.” 

Braeden averages a double-double, and her 11.4 rebounds also leads Northwest A. Her ability to score and rebound made her a hot commodity on the recruiting circuit where she eventually signed with BYU. 

“Braeden is very deserving of where she is going, she can play all five spots on the floor on defense and offense, so it is really hard to stop her which I think she has shown this year,” Courtnee said.  

She had other Division I offers from Montana, Montana State, Boise State, Washington State and Hawaii, but ultimately chose the Cougars because it felt familiar. 

“I think I connected with the teammates and the coaching staff more at BYU than the other schools I visited,” Braeden added. “They have a very good culture and community there that I liked, which reminded me a lot of Bigfork with how much they support basketball.” 

Fans around the Valley will only have a few games left to support the historic Valkyries as they finished the regular season as the top seed in Northwest A standings for the second straight year. 

Both Courtnee and Braeden are happy to stay undefeated in league play but echo the same sentiment that the toughest challenges still lie ahead. 

“I don’t think we are as strong as we have been in the past, but we have the potential, and I think we have the girls that really want to get it done,” Courtnee said.  

“Going into the season, we weren’t supposed to be as dominant as we have been in the past,” Braeden added. “We have grown a lot, and I am super proud of this team and this program for all my four years.” 

The Valkyries' first challenge in the postseason comes Thursday against Butte Central with tipoff at Whitefish high school scheduled for 10:30 a.m. 

With two wins Bigfork would punch its ticket to state for every year Braeden Gunlock has been a Valkyrie. 

“These girls have played together since the second or third grade, so all of the senior girls in this program will be missed,” Courtnee said. 

“Braeden is a great player, a very special player and if she wasn’t my daughter, I would say the same thing about her.”