Vikings win two straight

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Two-in-a-row — it's a start.

The Bigfork High School boys varsity basketball team, now 5-11 overall, won both of its non-conference games last week. The wins — 52-33 over Plains and 54-42 against St. Ignatius — mark the first winning streak for the program since the 2005-2006 season.

Bigfork opened the week at home against the Plains Horsemen Thursday with three 3-point field goals between the Vikes' two seniors — Roland Benedict and Levi Dockstader. Benedict led the Vikes with 18 points and four steals. Dockstader added nine points.

Amidst the seniors' scoring were baskets by Scott Taylor, Garrett Pewe and Keenan Evans. Taylor pulled down five boards for Bigfork to go along with his eight points. Pewe also scored eight points while recording five steals, five rebounds and four assists. The Vikes at one point had a 12-4 lead over the Horsemen, who came back to score four points and make the score 12-8. Bigfork led 17-11 at the end of the quarter.

Plains came back within four points of the Vikes to end the second quarter for a 31-27 halftime score. Undaunted, the Vikes started the third quarter with 10 straight points while holding the Horsemen scoreless for a little more than four minutes. Plains scored only two points in the quarter to Bigfork's 10.

It was much of the same in the fourth quarter, as the Vikes rattled off seven points in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to make the score 48-29. Plains scored just four points in the quarter. The Bigfork victory ended the Vikes' six-game losing streak. Their last win came against the Horsemen in Plains Jan. 4.

Benedict and Pewe scored in double digits in the Vikes' second win on Saturday. Benedict scored 23 points and Pewe notched 12.

Bigfork trailed the Bulldogs by 10 at halftime — 27-17 — after leading 12-8 in the first quarter. The Vikes stifled the Bulldogs' scoring in the second half, allowing St. Ignatius to score just six points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth.

The Vikes return to Northwest A conference action Friday, Feb. 8, against Whitefish. Whitefish is currently 7-7 overall and 3-4 in the conference. Basketball action starts with the freshman game at 4:15 in Whitefish.

Plains 11 16 2 4 — 33

Bigfork 17 14 10 11 — 52

PLAINS (12-4) — Brian Green 1 0-0 2, Ian Stokes 1 0-0 3, Jesse Warren 0 0-3 0, Ben Holland 1 0-0 2, Mitch Thompson 4 0-0 9, Tanner Colombo 2 1-1 7, Paul Green 1 4-4 6, Conner Ballantyne 1 0-0 2, Trent Thompson 1 0-2 2. Totals 12 5-8 33.

BIGFORK (4-11) — Roland Benedict 6 4-4 18, Levi Dockstader 4 0-1 9, Brock Boll 2 1-2 5, Garrett Pewe 4 0-0 8, Scott Taylor 3 2-4 8, Keenan Evans 1 0-0 2, Zac Hansen 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-11 52.

3-point goals — Pla. 4 (M. Thompson, Colombo 2, Stokes), Bf. 3 (Benedict 2, Dockstader). Totals fouls — Pla. 11, Bf. 16. Fouled out — none.

Bigfork 54, St. Ignatius 42

Bigfork 12 5 17 20 — 54

St. Ignatius 8 19 6 9 — 42

BIGFORK Roland Benedict 23, Levi Dockstader 7, Brock Boll 5, Garrett Pewe 12, Scott Taylor 5, Lael Richmond 2.

ST. IGNATIUS Dallas Cordier 14, Jorren Geis 6, Lucas McDonald 4, Edward Gunawan 2, Rafael Okuhara 4, Alex Morigeau 11, Spencer Ahlborn 1.