Vikings still searching for first win.

Vikings still searching for first win, lose two in Northwest A

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork Vikings lost two tough Northwest A matchups last week that left the Vikes still looking for their first win of the season.

Whitefish, which came into its game against the Vikes Jan. 11 with an identical record - winless, beat the Vikes 48-37. The Ronan Chiefs, on the other hand, had to take their game against Bigfork into overtime to get their 62-56 win.

Bigfork started well at home against the Bulldogs. Senior Kainoa Lake scored early and often for the Vikes in the first quarter. He started the Bigfork scoring with a field goal and followed that up with two free throws, as he was fouled on a shot attempt in the paint.

Byron Whitcomb made a three-point basket for the Dogs, giving them a one-point lead. Bigfork's Brock Boll sank a three-pointer as well, a couple of minutes later, to give the Vikes a 9-5 lead. Neither the Bulldogs or the Vikings were done shooting threes just then. Aaron Tkachyk made another for the Dogs, while Andrew Whittaker put on in for the Vikes. Bigfork led 12-8 after Whittaker's three-pointer.

Whittaker was the last to score for the Vikes in the first quarter. Whitefish's David FauntLeRoy and Colt Idol scored six points in the remaining 2:28 to put the Dogs ahead 14-12. Justin Goode was fouled on a shot attempt at the buzzer, but missed both free-throw baskets.

The second quarter was just as close as the first, with the score tied four times in the quarter.

John White and Goode scored baskets for the Vikes in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Goode's came off a loose ball the Vikes gained control of and passed down the floor. Goode also had a steal after a basket by Lake, but could not convert into a basket on the other end of the floor. Teammate Garrett Pewe stole the ball on a Whitefish inbounds pass and turned it into two points for the Vikes, giving them a short-lived 20-18 lead. FauntLeRoy made two free-throws to tie the game at 20 apiece with 3:26.

The scoring continued back and forth, with White and Roland Benedict scoring for the Vikes who trailed the Bulldogs 23-26 at halftime.

Whitefish increased their lead to eight points early in the third quarter. The Dogs went to the foul line twice and Idol added a field goal, as well. The Dogs continued scoring, as Tkachyk made a three-pointer and two-point field goal.

Lake ended the Bigfork scoring drought with a basket on a Viking inbounds play. Lake drove past Jamie Clogg to make the basket and make the score 25-36 with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. Idol was the only other player to score for either team the rest of the quarter, as the Bulldogs led 40-25 going into the fourth quarter. Lake finished the game with 12 points.

Bigfork put its best foot forward in the fourth quarter, hitting the boards hard but Whitefish ended the game out-rebounding the Vikes 21-14. Brock Boll scored four points for the Vikes in the first couple of minutes. Benedict added two points for the Vikes after a steal. His basket made the score 31-44. Benedict scored seven point against the Bulldogs, as did Boll.

Benedict stole the ball again and passed it to Whittaker who was fouled on his shot attempt. He made one of two free throws. Benedict was also one-of-two from the free-throw line, hitting the front end of a one-and-one.

Four free-throws from Lake brought the Vikes within nine points of the Bulldogs with just over a minute left in the game. Goode and Benedict launched three-point attempts that fell short and secured the 48-37 Whitefish win.

Things looked promising for the Vikes Saturday in Ronan. Bigfork trailed the Chiefs 12-14 at the end of the first quarter, and 31-25 at halftime. With a 15-2 third quarter, the Vikes seemed to be on the verge of securing their first win.

The Chiefs crept back into the game, out-scoring the Vikings 15-8 in the fourth quarter and sending the game into overtime.

Benedict led the Vikes in scoring with 17. Goode and Whittaker each added 10 for the Vikes.

Bigfork was out-scored again in overtime, this time 14-8. Ronan's Moss Tanner gave the Chiefs the boost they needed to get past the Vikings. He scored 22 points, while teammate Cameron Barber scored 12 points in the Chiefs' 62-56 win.

Boll scored six points for Bigfork, and White added five.

The Vikings, now 0-6 in the Northwest A conference and 0-10 overall, travel to Libby Thursday to take on the Loggers at 4:15 p.m. Bigfork hosts the Eureka Lions at 3 p.m. Jan. 20.

Bigfork 37

Whitefish 48

BIGFORK - John White 3, Kainoa Lake 12, Roland Benedict 7, Justin Goode 2, Andrew Whittaker 4, Brock Boll 7, Garrett Pewe 2.

WHITEFISH - Aaron Tkachyk 14, Luke Fennelly 4, Byron Whitcomb 3, Colt Idol 18, Jamie Clogg 4, Dane Sjoden 1, David FauntLeRoy 4.

Bigfork 56

Ronan 62

BIGFORK - Justin Goode 10, Roland Benedict 17, Brock Boll 6, Jon White 5, Levi Dockstader 3, Kainoa Lake 3, Garrett Pewe 2, Andrew Whittaker 10.

RONAN - Moss Tanner 22, Jordan St. Clair 3, Nolan Harris 9, Cameron Barber 12, Mike Fisher II 4, Billy Antoine 4, Makenzy Kelch 2, Kyle Orr 2, Gene Adams 4.