Bigfork drops to 4-6 overall

By FAITH MOLDAN Bigfork Eagle

Bigfork High School's boys basketball team was welcomed back into Northwest A Conference play with two losses to the Whitefish Bulldogs and Ronan Chiefs.

The Bulldogs beat the Vikings 56-44 in Bigfork on Jan. 11 and the Chiefs did their part, topping the Vikes 57-37 the following day.

"Some of it was self-inflicted," Bigfork coach Jim Epperly said. He added that though the Vikes' played good defense at times, their offense came up short in both games. "They seemed to have some first-half nerves. They put up quick shots early and gave Whitefish the upper hand."

Whitefish steadily built a lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Bigfork scored first on a 2-point field goal by Roland Benedict, but scored just two more points in the following three-and-a-half minutes. Benedict ended the game with 11 points. By the time the Vikes scored another field goal with 3:04 on the clock, Whitefish led by eight points. The first quarter ended with the Bulldogs ahead 17-9.

Bigfork came no closer than 11 points of the Bulldogs in the second quarter. The Vikes trailed Whitefish 33-19 at halftime. The Vikes narrowed Whitefish's lead to 10 in the third quarter.

Brock Boll scored four of his 14 points in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter and also hit the boards for the Vikes.

"I don't know if he missed a shot," Epperly said of the sharp-shooting Boll.

Boll's second basket kept Bigfork within nine points of the Bulldogs. Whitefish built its lead back into double digits minutes later, a large enough deficit that the Vikes couldn't overcome, as Whitefish recorded the 56-44 win.

"You can't score 40 points and win," Epperly said. He added that although the Vikes have played better on the road than at home so far this season, their offensive struggles continued against Ronan.

Keenan Evans and Levi Dockstader led the Vikes with nine points each. Evans also grabbed seven rebounds in what Epperly called a good game for the young sophomore. Benedict added eight points.

Bigfork trailed the Chiefs by 11 points at halftime, but Ronan unloaded a 19-point third quarter on the Vikes to double-up on Bigfork 42-21. The Vikes kept pace with Ronan in the fourth quarter, but their efforts were a little too late as the Chiefs won 57-37.

"The schedule doesn't get any easier," Epperly said. Bigfork, now 4-6 overall, hosts both Libby and Flathead at home this week. "They've been up and down in the conference, but they really impressed us earlier this season," he said of the Loggers. Libby holds a 5-4 overall record.

Bigfork plays the Loggers tomorrow, Jan. 18, at home and hosts Flathead Jan. 19.