Vikes, Vals shoot well at shootout

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

The Vikes' and Vals' hot shooting made Bigfork High School $1,000 richer last week.

Bigfork was one of six schools which competed in the 7th Annual Les Schwab Shootout, which was held at BHS. Two Vals — Hattie Bowen and Roxy Thurman — and three Vikes — Roland Benedict, Levi Dockstader and Zach Hansen — took on some of the Flathead's best in free-throw shooting, 3-point shooting and a slam dunk contest on April 9. Bigfork finished with 80 points for fourth place.

Hattie Bowen sank 12 3-pointers for 24 points, while Thurman drained 15 free throws. Bowen also shot 3-pointers at last year's shootout. Both the free-throw shooting and 3-point shooting were timed (one minute). Dockstader made 13 3-pointers in the minute timeframe. Benedict, who competed in last year's shootout as well, made 15 free-throws.

"I practiced two days before (the shootout)," Levi Dockstader said. "It was more of a fun thing. I could have done better, but I got tired at the end."

Zach Hansen did his best to earn BHS $100 more in the slam dunk contest. He did not receive a score on his first dunk, which the judges ruled a "push dunk" but did score a round of 8's for his second attempt and completion. Flathead's Brock Osweiller won the dunk contest.

"I'm proud of Zach for getting his dunk down," Dockstader said.

Whitefish High School topped newcomer Glacier High School. The Wolfpack placed second this year with its 95 points. Whitefish tallied 98 points.

Les Schwab has contributed $40,000 to Flathead Valley schools the past seven years.