BOZEMAN — For top-ranked and undefeated Bigfork, it’s on to the semifinals.

The Vikings (24-0) opened the Class B state boys basketball tournament Thursday afternoon with an impressive 66-41 triumph over Joliet in first-round play at Montana State University.

“Exactly as planned,” Bigfork coach Josh Downey said of how the game unfolded.

“We had a good chance to rest the starters four minutes into the third quarter. That’s a huge advantage for us to rest them for the semifinals tomorrow.”

Bigfork will face Huntley Project (20-4) tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the semis. The winner advances to Saturday’s title game at 8.

Christian Evans topped Bigfork in scoring with 17 points. He was 7 of 9 from the field and made his lone free throw attempt. Issac Martel was 6 of 8 shooting and 1 of 1 at the charity stripe to finish with 14 points.

“He hit a couple treys, got a couple big defensive rebounds,” Downey said of Evans in the early going.

“All our guards were playing so scrappy, getting hands on the ball, deflections.”

Bigfork doubled the score on Joliet in the opening quarter, 22-11, and took a 36-18 lead to the locker room at the half.

“We shot 70 percent in the first half, only had three turnovers,” Downey said.

“We’re definitely playing our best basketball right now.”

Downey told his players at intermission “not to relax. To play every possession like it matters.”

Downey said the bench players hit their shots and played solid basketball.

“It was great to get those guys as many minutes as we can,” he said.

Regarding tonight’s contest ...

“We’ve done research on them for the past week,” Downey said.

“They are a good, scrappy group. Their guards are athletic, they like to run.

“If we just do what we do, make a couple of adjustments for them, we’ll be fine.”

Joliet and Malta are back on the court today at noon in loser-out play.

Class B state

basketball tournament

Bozeman

Montana State University

Thursday

First-round games

Boys

Bigfork 66, Joliet 41

Joliet 11 7 6 17 — 41

Bigfork 22 14 20 10 — 66

Joliet (17-10) — Levi Mydland 1-2 0-0 2, Terryn Bermes 2-9 0-0 4, Jared Schwend 1-1 2-2 4, Cam Lloyd 3-6 0-0 9, Brock Beede 4-6 1-4 9, Ty Olson 3-4 0-1 7, Matt Niles 2-6 0-0 4, Wyatt Kramer 0-0 2-2 2, Josh Luoma 0-1 0-2 0, Josh Whitehead 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-36 FG 5-14 FT 41.

Bigfork (24-0) — Wyatt Fisher 2-3 0-0 5, Josh Sandry 2-3 4-4 8, Ryder Trent 1-1 2-2 5, Cameron Nissen 2-3 1-2 5, Christian Evans 7-9 1-1 17, Kyle Thomson 0-1 0-0 0, Adam Jordt 0-5 0-0 0, Issac Martel 6-8 1-1 14, Tyler Piazzola 2-4 1-1 5, Jon Landon 1-5 0-0 3, Kobe Boese 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 25-44 FG 10-11 FT.

3-pointers — Jol 4-12 (Lloyd 3-6, Olson 1-1), Big 6-17 (Evans 2-2, Trent 1-1, Fisher 1-2, Jordt 1-3, Landon 1-3). Rebounds — Jol 17 (Niles 4), Big 29 (Nissen 9). Assists — Jol 6 (Schwend 3), Big 6 (Martel 2, Sandry 2). Steals — Jol 2 (Niles, Jordan Polesky), Big 9 (Landon 3). Blocks — Jol 0, Big 2 (Boese, Nissen).

Huntley Project 71, Malta 65

Huntley Project 14 20 12 25 — 71

Malta 16 12 11 26 — 65

Huntley Project (20-4) — Michael Harris 5-8 10-14 20, Tanner Oblender 5-9 0-1 10, Chase Mitchell 5-7 3-6 13, Yancey Fitch 0-4 7-8 7, Michael Jobman 5-8 0-0 10, Dakota Brown 1-1 0-0 3, Kaleb Reynolds 2-3 1-3 6, Quincy Wittman 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 24-41 21-32 71.

Malta (18-7) — Jase Galt 5-10 2-3 12, Tyson Carney 1-2 0-0 2, Jeremy Costin 5-9 0-0 15, Zach Handley 7-18 9-9 23, Troy Manoukian 0-0 2-3 2, Nate Costin 1-8 0-0 3, Allen Williamson 4-6 0-0 9. Totals: 23-53 13-15 65.

3-pointers — HP 2-6 (Brown 1-1, Reynolds 1-2), Mal 6-21 (J. Costin 4-8, Williamson 1-1, N. Costin 1-6). Rebounds — HP 28 (Harris 7), Mal 25 (J. Costin 8). Assists — HP 5 (Fitch 2), Mal 5 (N. Costin 3). Steals — HP 8 (Fitch 2, Mitchell 2, reynolds 2), Mal 6 (Carney 2, Galt 2, Handley 2) . Blocks — HP 4 Jobman 3), Mal 0.

Glasgow 49, Jefferson 40

Jefferson 8 22 9 2 — 40

Glasgow 13 14 9 13 — 49

Jefferson (21-4) — Sage Fadness 0-2 0-0 0, Scotty Ferguson 1-7 1-2 3, Alex Burnett 0-2 0-0 0, Logan Williams 4-11 1-1 10, Cole woodland 2-11 0-0 4, Trase Letexier 5-10 3-10 13, Zach McFadden 0-1 0-0 0, Sam Fletcher 5-9 0-0 10. Totals: 17-53 5-13 40.

Glasgow (21-3) — Gage Legare 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Thibault 1-8 6-7 8, Lane Herbert 2-7 5-6 10, Jake Page 2-6 2-2 6, Chase Fossum 3-9 3-4 9, Keil Krumwiede 5-6 1-2 12, Jake Kolstad 1-6 2-2 4. Totals: 14-43 19-23 49.

Total fouls -- JEF 19, GLA 11. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none. 3-point goals -- JEF 1-18 (Williams), GLA 2-7 (Herbert, Krumwiede). Rebounds -- JEF 24 (T. Letexier 6), GLA 45 (Fossum 10). Assists -- JEF 7 (T. Letexier 2), GLA 11 (Thibault 5). Turnovers -- JEF 5, GLA 12.

Columbus 55, Florence 48

Columbus 7 7 17 24 — 55

Florence 9 8 10 23 — 48

COLUMBUS – Kade Osborne 4-9 4-8 14, Peyton Grose 3-7 2-3 8, Tanner Osborne 4-10 3-6 11, TreyOstrum 3-7 4-6 12, Philip Holten 2-7 1-2 5, Kiefer McKay 1-1 1-4 3, Jackson Booth 0-0 2-2 2, BradyExner 0-0 0-0 0, Braden Majerison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-41 17-31 55.

FLORENCE – Ryan Mangun 4-6 2-3 10, Brad Schaff 2-5 2-5 6, Levi Clagett 3-10 3-6 10, Travern SMith 3-4 3-4 9, Brandon Johnson 1-3 1-2 4, Brady Pickering 1-1 2-2 5, Jake Kelling 0-1 0-1 0, Jake Christopherson 1-2 0-0 3, Tynan Heck 0-1 1-2 1, Reese Lesoine 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-34 14-25 48.

3-point goals – Columbus 4-11 (Ostrum 2-2, K.Osborne 2-4, T. Osborne 0-1, Gross 0-2, Holten 0-2), Florence 4-11 (Christopherson 1-1, Pickering 1-1, Johnson 1-2, Clagett 1-4, Mangun 0-1, Schaff 0-1, Kelling 0-1). Total fouls – Columbus 20, Florence 23. Fouled out – Johnson, Smith, Mangun. Rebounds – Columbus 21 (T. Osborne 7), Florence 34 (Clagett 14). Blocks – Florence 5 (Christopherson 3, Schaff, Clagett). Steals – Columbus 15 (Ostrum 5), Florence 3 (Mangun 2).

Girls

Powell County 43, Columbus 24

Columbus 4 9 7 4 — 24

Powell County 5 14 11 13 — 43

Columbus (16-11) — Kyla Rouane 5-8 0-2 10, Hailey Campbell 1-1 0-0 3, Madi Sindelar 1-1 0-0 2, Rachel Ault 1-10 4-5 6, Courtney Martinez 1-5 0-1 2, Cierra Johannes 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 9-21 5-10 24.

Powell County (23-1) — Lacie Thomas 0-6 0-1 0, Michele Christnacht 6-14 1-1 16, Baylee Senecal 2-9 7-9 11, Shayla Therriault 3-5 0-0 7, Dani Walker 2-4 0-2 4, Natalie Padovich 2-4 0-2 5. Totals 15-42 8-15 43

3-pointers — Col 1-5 (Campbell 1-1), PC 5-14 (Christnacht 3-6, Therriault 1-1, Padovich 1-2). Rebounds — Col 21 (Martinez 9), PC 27 (Senecal 7). Assists — Col 3 (Ault, Campbell, Martinez), PC 6 (Thomas 3). Steals — Col 4 (Ault 2), PC 11 (Padovich 4). Blocks — Col 0, PC 1 (Walker).

Malta 51, Forsyth 41

Forsyth 13 9 8 11 — 41

Malta 11 11 11 18 — 51

Forsyth (22-2) — Dalaney Purkett 1-4 0-0 3, Ruby Kallenbach 1-6 0-1 2, Meranda Sargent 1-4 4-6 6, Raelynn Keeefer 1-9 6-6 9, Kaylee Zard 5-7 4-4 14, Ali Hert 1-4 0-0 2, Kelsey Seleg 2-3 1-1 5, Laura Hein 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 12-38 15-18 41.

Malta (23-1) — Sophia Stiles 3-6 5-9 12, Hailey Nicholson 4-10 -00- 8, Mercedes Stiles 3-12 6-10 13, Rebecca Smith 1-3 0-2 3, Darby Schye 5-7 1-2 11, Marley Manoukian 0-2 0-0 0, Markelle Lett 0-2 0-0 0, Kelsey Kuehn 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 18-45 12-23 51.

3-pointers — Forsyth 2-9 (Keefer 1-3, Purkett 1-3), Malta 3-8 (S. Stiles 1-1, Smith 1-3, M. Stiles 1-3). Rebounds — Forsyth 27 ( Zard 9), Malta 22 (Nicholson 7). Assists — For 3 (Zard 2), Mal 9 (M. Stiles 5). Steals — For 7 (Hert 2, Purkett 2), Mal 14 (Lett 4, M. Stiles 4).

Fairfield 61, Manhattan 36

Manhattan 9 6 10 11 — 36

Fairfield 11 16 17 17 — 61

Manhattan (21-4) — Tessa Miller 4-10 4-4 13, Savannah Carr 3-10 0-0 7, Mariah Harvey 0-3 0-0 0, Sophia Wass 1-2 0-0 2, Brooke Jones 4-20 6-6 14, Kennedy Grubich 0-1 0-0 0, Tori Lucier 0-1 0-0 0, Regan Wubben 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 12-49 10-10 36.

Fairfield (24-0) — Jill Barta 7-11 10-12 24, Taleiigh Isakson 0-3 0-0 0, Kourtney Coverdell 4-7 4-4 12, Kaylynn Coverdell 6-9 4-4 16, Allie Steinbach 1-1 2-2 4, Kaylee Baeth 2-3 1-2 5, Brooke Poor 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 20-35 21-24 61.

3-pointers — Man 2-8 (Miller 1-2, carr 1-3), Fair 0-2. Rebounds — Man 21 (Jones 8), Fair 24 Barta 12). Assists — Man 6 (Wubben 2), Fair 14 (Barta 5. Ko. Coverdell 5). Steals — Man 5 (Jones 4), Fair 10 (Barta 3). Blocks — Man 1 (Jones), Fair 6 (Barta 5).

Shepherd 52, Missoula Loyola 43

Shepherd 15 13 20 4 — 52

Loyola 9 8 11 15 — 43

SHEPHERD (17-7) — Tonya Murray 1-6 2-2 4, Brooklyn Mitchell 3-6 0-0 6, Janie McRae 10-15 2-2 22, Abbie Goggins 3-8 0-0 7, Emily Millard 2-6 5-6 9, Madison Hinkle 1-1 0-0 2, Rilee McCartney 1-3 0-0 2, Lindsey Stanina 0-3 0-0 0, Shay Shelhamer 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 9-10 52.

LOYOLA SACRED HEART (13-11) — Skyler Hollenback 4-7 4-7 12, Makaya Resner 6-13 0-2 12, Sami Worster 2-14 1-4 5, Kesley Twite 1-3 0-0 3, Olivia Round 0-7 2-2 2, Mikayla Schneider 3-12 1-2 7, Kelcey Daily 0-0 0-0 0, Brook Kolar 1-1 0-0 2, Nicole Twite 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-58 8-17 43.

3-point goals – Shepherd 1-3 (Goggins 1-2, Murray 0-1), Loyola 1-9 (K.Twite 1-1, Resner 0-1, Round 0-1, Worster 0-6). Total fouls – Shepherd 12, Loyola 10. Fouled out – none. Rebounds – Shepherd 33 (McRae 15), Loyola 40 (Resner 12). Blocks – Shepherd 4 (McRae 3, Mitchell), Loyola 1 (Resner). Steals – Shepherd 4 (4 with 1), Loyola 13 (Schneider 4).