BOZEMAN — Pushed harder than it had been in months, Bigfork responded from a six-point second half deficit with a 15-0 run, wresting control from Southern B champion Huntley Project to win 68-56 in the semifinals of the Class B state boys basketball tournament on Friday night at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University.

Project first stole momentum in the second quarter, using energy from an 11-3 run to fight its way out of a 15-point hole. Trailing 34-27 two minutes into the third quarter, the Devils scored 12 straight points to take its first lead in more than 16 minutes of game play. They would lead 44-38 before Bigfork could mount a comeback.

“It’s the most worried I’ve been,” Bigfork coach Josh Downey said. “I’ve been worried before but this game matters more than any other game.”

Vikings senior Josh Sandry led the charge in the fourth quarter. He picked up a steal in the opening seconds and led the break to get two quick buckets to start a Bigfork run. The energy spread quickly, and after another fast-break bucket, a putback and a corner 3, Bigfork had a 54-46 lead and all the momentum behind it.

Sandry capped the run with an attemped dunk, but missed as he was fouled, making both free throws to give the Vikings a 56-46 advantage and the first 13 points of the fourth quarter. Bigfork led 61-49 before closing out the game with free throws.

“Really, guys stepped up and made some big shots,” Downey said. “We haven’t been down ever. Or, very rarely. These guys figured it out and battled back. That showed a lot of heart and character.”

Sandry led Bigfork with 25 points and 10 rebounds, also pitching in for six assists and four steals.

“Downey just told us to pick it up,” Sandry said. “We were fine. We were relaxed. But, just pick it up and start playing our ball like we did in the first quarter.”

The Vikings built a huge lead early, scoring 16 straight points in the first quarter to take a 15-point lead and control of the game. Bigfork’s size and speed frustrated the Project offense inside, the Vikings picking up three blocks in the first quarter alone.

The advantage started to dwindle in the second quarter as Bigfork fell into foul trouble. Project chipped away at the lead from the free-throw line, scoring 7 of its 15 second quarter points from the stripe to cut the score to 31-24 at halftime.

Bigfork senior Christian Evans had 10 points and nine rebounds as the Devils focused their defense on taking away his presence inside.

Michael Harris had 19 points to lead Huntley Project.

The win advances Bigfork to its first state title game since 1983. The Vikings will play Columbus at 8:30 tonight. The Cougars beat Glasgow 54-37 on Friday in the semifinals.

Bigfork is looking forward to the opportunity.

“Everybody wishes they could play in a state championship game,” Sandry said. “We just have to take it all in and have fun with it.”

Semifinal

Bigfork 68 Huntley Project 56

Bigfork 21 10 12 25 — 68

H. Project 9 15 22 10 — 56

BIGFORK – Josh Sandry 9-18 6-13 25, Christian Evans 4-8 2-3 10, Cameron Nissen 3-3 1-2 7, Ryder Trent 3-6 0-0 9, Isaac Martel 3-11 0-0 8, Adam Jordt 1-2 2-5 5, Jon Landon 2-9 0-0 4. Totals 25-57 11-3 68.

HUNTLEY PROJECT – Michael Jobman 1-3 2-2 4, Yancey Fitch 3-12 2-2 11, Tanner Oblendr 3-8 7-7 13, Michael Harris 6-12 5-7 19, Kaleb Reynolds 3-12 1-1 8, Chase Mitchell 0-0 1-3 1, Quincy Wittman 0-0 0-2 0, Dallas Mack 0-1 0-0 0, Dakota Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Raymond Strobbe 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-48 18-24 56.

3-point goals – Bigfork 7-23 (Trent 3-6, Martel 2-8, Jordt 1-2, Sandry 1-4, Landon 0-3), Project 6-19 (Fitch 3-7, Harris 2-5, Reynolds 1-5, Jobman 0-1, Mack 0-1). Total fouls – Bigfork 21, Project 20. Fouled out – Nissen, Harris, Oblender. Rebounds – Bigfork 37 (Sandry 10, Evans 9), Proejct 28 (Jobman 7, Oblender 7). Steals – Bigfork 11 (Martel 6), Project 6 (Harris 2). Blocks – Bigfork 6 (Evans 3, Nissen 2, Martel), Project 4 (Mitchell 2, Oblender, Fitch). Turnovers – Bigfork 11, Project 15.

Columbus 54, Glasgow 37

Glasgow 7 10 5 15 – 37

Columbus 12 17 7 18 – 54

GLASGOW – Jason Theibault 2-10 3-4 7, Lane Herbert 1-7 0-0 3, Jake Page 3-5 2-2 8, Chase Fossum 1-5 3-4 6, Keil Krumwiede 0-2 1-2 1, Ethan Etchart 1-1 0-0 3, Gage Legare 1-2 0-0 2, Lachlan Vaira 1-1 0-0 2, Jake Kolstad 1-5 2-4 4, Zach Miller 0-0 1-2 1, Kevin Schindler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-39 12-18 37.

COLUMBUS – Petyon Gross 1-1 0-0 2, Tanner Osborne 7-16 0-3 16, Philip Holten 6-11 0-0 12, Kade Osborne 1-3 0-0 2, Trey Ostrum 6-8 0-1 14, Brandon Clouse 0-0 0-0 0, Kiefer McKay 1-2 2-2 4, Braden Majerison 1-1 0-0 2, Brady Exner 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-43 2-6 54.

3-point goals – Glasgow 3-14 (Etchart 1-1, Fossum 1-2, Herbert 1-4, Schindler 0-1, Kolstad 0-1, Legare 0-1, Krumwiede 0-1, Theibault 0-3), Columbus 4-14 (Ostrum 2-3, T.Osborne 2-8, Holten 0-1, K.Osborne 0-2). Total fouls – Glasgow 15, Columbus 18. Fouled out – K. Osborne. Rebounds – Glasgow 17 (4 with 3), Columbus 35 (Holten 11). Blocks – Glasgow 2 (Fossum 2), Columbus 1 (Holten). Steals – Glasgow 9 (Theibault 2, Krumwiede 2), Columbus 6 (Holten 3). Turnovers – Glasgow 10, Columbus 16.

Loser-out games

Malta 66, Joliet 52

Malta 16 17 23 10 – 66

Joliet 10 16 12 14 – 52

MALTA – Jase Galt 2-7 2-2 6, Tyson Carney 1-5 6-8 8, Jeremy Costin 4-7 0-0 9, Zach Handley 9-18 4-5 25, TroyManoukian 0-6 0-0 0, Nate Costin 4-5 1-2 12, Allen Williamson 2-2 2-4 6, Tyler Ost 0-0 0-0 0, Cru Darrah 0-0 0-0 0, Blake Sjostrom 0-0 0-0 0, Ostin Welch 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-50 15-21 66.

JOLIET – Levi Mydland 0-1 0-0 0, Terryn Bermes 9-12 2-5 20, Jared Schwend 1-6 1-2 3, Cam Lloyd 3-8 0-0 9, Brock Beede 6-9 3-3 15, Jordan Poesky 0-2 0-0 0, Matt Niles 0-4 0-0 0, Ty Olson 1-1 1-1 3, Austin Webber 0-2 0-0 0, Wyatt Kramer 1-1 0-0 2, Josh Whitehead 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-46 7-11 52.

3-point goals – Malta 7-14 (NCostin 3-3, Handley 3-4, JCostin 1-3, Carner 0-=4), Joliet 3-14 (Lloyd 3-8, Niles 0-3, Beede 0-1, Bermes 0-1, Mydland 0-1). Total fouls – Malta 16, Joliet 21. Fouled out – Lloyd. Rebounds – Malta 31 (Handley 7), Joliet 29 (Beede 10). Blocks – Malta 2 (Handley 2), Joliet 3 (Beede 2, Bermes). Steals – Malta 10 (Handley 4), Joliet 2 (Mydland, Beede). Turnovers – Malta 12, Joliet 17.

Florence-Carlton 44, Jefferson 37

Florence-Carlton 7 10 13 14 — 44

Jefferson 6 10 7 14 — 37

Florence-Carlton (14-11) — Brandon Johnson 3-7 2-2 9, Levi Clagett 7-11 2-3 18, Travern smith 1-6 0-2 2, Ryan Mangun 0-2 4-7 4, Brad Schaff 4-5 2-5 10, Brady Pickering 0-4 1-2 1. Totals: 15-35 FG 11-21 FT 44.

Jefferson (21-5) — Scotty Ferguson 3-8 0-0 8, Logan Williams 2-10 4-4 9, Cole Woodland 0-7 1-2 1, Trae LeTexier 6-11 1-2 13, Sam Fletcher 1-4 0-0 3, Sage Fadness 1-2 0-0 3, Alex Brunett 0-3 0-0 0, Wyatt LeTexier 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 13-47 FG 6-8 FT 37

3-pointers — F-C 3-5 (Clagett 2-3, Johnson 1-2), Jeff 5-16 (Ferguson 2-4, Fadness 1-1, Fletcher 1-2, Williams 1-6, Woodland 0-3). Rebounds — F-C 32 (Schaff 7), Jeff 21 (T. LeTexier 4). Assists — F-C 8 (Mangun 3), Jeff 10 (Fletcher 4). Steals — F-C 7 (Smith 2), Jeff 9 (Fletcher 3). Blocks — F-C 0, Jeff 4 (Fletcher 2, T. Letexier 2).

Malta 66, Joliet 52

Girls

Semifinals

Malta 51, Powell County 34

Powell County 9 5 9 11 — 34

Malta 9 10 17 15 — 51

Powell County (23-2) – Lacie Thomas 2-7 0-0 4, Michele Christnacht 2-4 0-0 6, Baylee Senecal 3-12 2-2 10, Shayla Therriault 0-2 1-6 1, Dani Walker 1-5 2-2 4, Natalie Padovich 1-5 0-0 2, Jaicee Senecal 0-3 1-2 1, Courtney Goff 0-2 0-0 0, Kelsie Gray 2-4 2-2 6. Totals: 11-44 8-14 34.

Malta (24-1) – Sophia Stiles 4-6 3-3 11, Hailey Nicholson 5-10 2-5 12, Mercedes Stiles 5-10 2-5 12, Rebecca Smith 3-5 3-3 10, Darby Schye 1-5 3-4 5, Marley Manoukian 1-2 4-5 6, Markelle Lett 0-3 0-0 0, Jada Nicholson 0-0 0-1 0, Kelsey Kuehn 0-4, 0-0 0, Adrianna Bibeau 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 16-39 18-26 51.

3-point goals – Powell County 4-16 (Christnacht 2-3, B. Senecal 2-6, Thomas 0-3, Padovich 0-2, J. Senecal 0-1, Gray 0-1), Malta 1-4 (Smith 1-3, S. Stiles 0-1). Rebounds – Powell County 22 (S. Therriault, Gray 4), Malta 35 (H. Nicholson 10). Assists – Powell County 5 (Thomas 2), Malta 8 (Schye 3), Blocks – Powell County 2 (H. Therriault, Gray), Malta 0. Steals – Powell County 8 (Thomas, B. Senecal, S. Therriault 2), Malta 9 (M. Stiles 3). Total fouls – Powell County 19, Malta 16. Fouled out – Powell County, Thomas, Walker. Technical fouls – none.

Fairfield 59, Shepherd 33

Fairfield 17 13 23 6 — 59

Shepherd 8 9 5 11 — 33

Fairfield (25-0) — Jill Barta 12-22 1-2 28, Kourtney Coverdell 3-7 1-2 9, Kaylynn Coverdell 6-7 0-0 12, Allie Steinbach 1-2 0-0 2, Kaylee Baeth 1-5 2-2 4, Kylee Ruckman 0-1 0-0 0, Taleiigh Isakson 1-2 1-2 3, Brooke Poor 0-2 1-2 1, Aspen Kolwyck 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-49 6-10 59.

Shepherd (17-8) — Abbie Goggins 3-12 1-2 10, Emily Millard 0-1 3-4 3, Tonya Murray 0-4 0-0 0, Brooklyn Mitchell 3-12 2-2 8, Janie McRae 3-8 1-2 7, Say Shelhamer 0-1 0-0 0, Madison Hinkle 0-3 2-2 2, Rylee McCartney 0-5 0-0 0, Taylor Stringari 0-2 0-0 0, Lindsey Stanina 1-2 1-1 3. Totals: 10-50 10-13 33.

3-point goals — Fairfield 5-10 (Barta 3-5, Ko. Coverdell 2-3, Baeth 0-2), Shepherd 3-16 (Goggins 3-10, Millard 0-1, Murray 0-1, Mitchell 0-1, Shelhamer 0-1, Hinkle 0-2). Rebounds — Fairfield 41 (Ka. Coverdell 12), Shepherd 22 (Mitchell, McRae 6). Assists — Fairfield 15 (Ko. Coverdell 5), Shepherd 7 (Murray 3). Blocks — Fairfield 5 (Barta 5), Shepherd 1 (McRae). Steals — Fairfield 6 (Barta, Ko. Coverdell 2), Shepherd 4 (McRae 3). Total fouls — Fairfield 11, Shepherd 12. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none.

Loser-out games

Manhattan 48, Loyola Sacred Heart 43

Loyola 9 16 12 6 – 43

Manhattan 5 18 15 10 – 48

LOYOLA SACRED HEART – Skylar Holleback 0-6 4-4 4, Kelsey Twite 1-3 2-2 4, Makaya Resner 3-11 3-4 9, Olivia Round 2-5 6-10 10, Sami Worster 2-9 0-0 5, Mikayla Schneider 2-6 5-6 9, Haley McCormack 0-0 0-0 0, Brook Kolar 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 11-41 20-26 43.

MANHATTAN – Sophia Wass 3-6 1-2 7, Mariah Harvey 1-2 0-0 2, Savannah Carr 2-7 0-0 5, Tessa Miller 2-9 6-8 10, Regan Wubben 1-1 2-2 5, Kennedy Grubich 2-3 0-0 5, Tori Lucier 0-0 2-2 2, Jolena Grevious 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Jones 5-15 2-4 12. Totals 16-43 13-18 48.

3-point goals – Loyola 1-4 (Worster1-2, Twite 0-2), Manhattan 3-10 (Wubben 1-1, Carr 1-2, Grubich 1-2, Jones 0-5). Total fouls – Loyola 16, Manhattan 19. Fouled out – none. Rebounds – Loyola 33 (Resner 7, Twite 7), Manhattan 31 (Wass 10). Blocks – Manhattan 3 (Jones 2, Wass). Steals – Loyola 5 (Schneider 2), Manhattan 5 (Carr 2). Turnovers – Loyola 13, Manhattan 10.

Forsyth 45, Columbus 43

Columbus 12 13 10 8 – 43

Forsyth 7 21 10 7 – 45

Columbus – Katie Hand 1, Kyla Rouane 8, Madi Sindelar 2, Cierra Johannes 2, Rachel Ault, Courtney Martinez 10.

Forsyth – Alli Hert 9, Kelsey Seleg 2, Ruby Kallenbach 7, Meranda Sargent 5, Raelynn Keefer 7, Kaylee Zard 15.