WHITEFISH — A day after ascending to the top of the Class B Associated Press boys basketball poll, the Bigfork Vikings toppled Class A Whitefish 46-38 to avenge a loss from earlier this season.

Bigfork (10-3, 6-0 District 7B) lost 60-54 to Whitefish (7-5, 3-1 Northwestern A) in overtime on Dec. 21, but its constant full-court pressure stifled the Bulldogs in the rematch. The win was Bigfork’s seventh in a row while Whitefish has lost two of its last three.

“It just boosts our confidence more,” said Bigfork guard Austin Jordt. “We’re starting to play better as a team and for us to come off a loss in overtime against these guys and win, it just helps us as a whole and it’s just another step in the right direction.”

Bigfork trailed 13-11 early in the second quarter before a 6-0 run gave the Vikings a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Unlike its previous encounter with Whitefish when it often settled for the outside shot, Bigfork fed the ball to 6-foot-6 forwards Colter Trent and Christian Evans in the post, who finished with 17 and eight points, respectively.

“That was the gameplan,” Bigfork coach Kurt Paulson said. “Last time we shot 25 three-pointers. I told them I don’t want 25 three-pointers, I want the ball in the paint, and for the most part we did that.”

Jordt contributed 13 points, doing most of his damage off the dribble and at the free-throw line, where he converted 4 of 6 attempts.

Bigfork held Whitefish’s perimeter-oriented offense to five three-pointers, including three by Cooper Olson, who led the Bulldogs with 11 points. Logan Hardwood and Keaton Nicholson each finished with eight points.

“They do a great job of putting pressure on you,” Whitefish coach Mark Casazza said. “They don’t let you get into any sort of offense. Even when you do break the full court they put so much pressure on you that you have a hard time getting into your offense.

“We didn’t break the press very well. Usually we can break the press and attack the basket, but we didn’t do that. They’re a heck of a team. There’s a reason why they’re No. 1.”

Bigfork extended its lead to five points late in the second quarter before Olson drilled a three to cut the Vikings’ lead to 23-19 at halftime.

Bigfork opened the second half with six unanswered points, two field goals by Evans from the low post and a driving layup by Trent, and extended its lead to 10 midway through the quarter.

“We’ve been coming out flat in the third quarter,” Jordt said. “Today we came out with intensity in the second half and we haven’t done that all year, so it was good for us.”

A three-pointer by Olson cut the Bigfork lead to seven before Trent answered to make it a nine-point game.

Whitefish scored two field goals early in the fourth, but didn’t have the firepower to mount a serious comeback.

“I didn’t ever want to take the press off,” Paulson said. “We just stayed in it all game and I think our size and physicality just wore them down in the end. I didn’t change defenses once all game minus the out of bounds plays.

“We’ve had a couple close ones like this the past two weeks that we’ve pulled out, so it’s a good sign that we’re growing and learning how to win those close ones. We’re doing it as a team. Before I thought individuals we’re trying to win the game, but now it’s a group effort and that’s what’s happening. It’s fun to watch them do that as a group.”

Bigfork improved to 2-3 against Class A schools while Whitefish fell to 3-2 against Class B schools.

Both teams are on the road on Saturday. Bigfork travels to St. Ignatius while Whitefish heads to Frenchtown.

Bigfork 11 12 12 11 — 46

Whitefish 8 11 7 11 — 38

BIGFORK  —    Austin Jordt 4 4-6 13, Seth Roessmann 1 2-4 4, Colter Trent 8 1-3 17, Josh Sandry 0 2-2 2, Tyler Kirby 0 2-4 2, Christian Evans 4 0-0 8. Totals: 14 11-19 46.

WHITEFISH —Keaton Nicholson 3 2-2 8, Logan Harwood 2 4-5 8, Jace Kalbfleisch 1 3-4 5, Art Doorn 2 0-0 6, Cooper Olson 4 0-0 11. Totals: 12 9-11 38.