Vikes get first win with new coaches

The froshmore Vikings basketball team started their season off with a bang, dominating the Stillwater Christian School junior varsity team 58-33 in their first game of the season Monday night at the Bigfork High School gym.

"We had a lot of kids step up in a big way," said Todd Trent, BHS froshmore boys basketball coach. "I thought for the first-game jitters we did well. The first half was a little slow, but we worked through it and ended up doing well."

In his first game of his high school career, freshman Tyler Kirby helped Bigfork to a 13-7 lead in the first quarter by scoring nine points. The Vikes were outscored 12-8 in the second with Kirby scoring four of those points and Luke LaFontaine getting the rest on a 3-point shot and a free throw.

"I was impressed with our ability to pick ourselves up when we got a little down," Trent said.

Although Bigfork had just a two point lead going into the third quarter, they spread that gap to 13 points with contributions from five players while defensively they held the Cougars to six points. The fourth quarter was especially good the Vikings, who outscored Stillwater 20-6 for the win.

"I think overall a lot of these kids decided to own their positions tonight," Trent said after the game. "It's just going to get better from here."

Kirby had a game high 20 points, which included making four of his seven shots from the line. LaFontaine was a big leader for the Vikes as well with 11 points, seven of which he put in during the fourth quarter including a second 3-pointer.

"Tyler (Kirby) had a great night on offense and defense," Trent said. "Luke (LaFontaine) had a great shooting game. Also, I thought Austin (Gordon) and Hank McLeod, defensively, had a good game. Matt Killian was a good leader for the team on offense."

The win was especially meaningful to the Vikings basketball program which is being overhauled with new coaches and new philosophies this season.

"It was a big thing for us, with the new program, to get the first one out of the way," Trent said. "It's a big thing for the program as a whole."

Although Trent is happy that the froshmore team is starting off the season with a win, he did see a few things he wants to work on.

"We have to work harder on defense with moving our feet, getting our hands up and taking charges," Trent said. "We need to get more confident in our shots too."

Bigfork's froshmore boys team will have their next game at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 17 in Eureka.