The Bigfork Vikings basketball team is still on top after two victories last week over St. Ignatius and Whitefish.

Bigfork took to the road on Thursday to beat Whitefish 52-36, but the Vikings wouldn’t win without some trouble. Bigfork trailed Whitefish 20-19 at halftime but came back in the third quarter to outscore the Bulldogs 20-7.

“Whitefish had a game plan, and it was to slow us down,” head coach Sam Tudor said.

But once Isaac Martel got going, the Vikes pulled ahead.

Martel led bigfork with 17 points, followed by Josh Sandry with 15.

The Vikes hosted St. Ignatius last Tuesday and easily won 79-50. Bigfork outscored St. Ignatius 22-9 in the second quarter. 

Four Vikings reached double figures in the win.

Martel finished with 15 points and seven assists. He was joined by Jonathan Landon, who also scored 15.

Josh Sandry poured in 14 points, and Adam Jordt scored 12 points to go along with his seven assists.

Despite being outrebounded 33-30, Bigfork committed just 12 turnovers in the contest while forcing the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on 28 occasions.

“The boys played really well,” Tudor said.

“They got to shoot it, they got to run it a little bit and we’re getting healthy again. We were battling some illnesses, but I thought they played pretty well.”

On Thursday the Vikings head to Columbia Falls for a non-conference rematch of top-ranked teams.

Bigfork and Columbia Falls boys remain ranked number one for their respective classes. In their last meeting in Bigfork, Columbia Falls gave the Vikings their only loss this season, 64-43, and broke the team’s 31-game winning streak.

“We played hard with them last time,” Tudor said, “Our shots just weren’t falling.”

Tudor said the Vikes will rely on their athletic ability and speed as they take on Columbia Falls again. Bigfork will travel to Troy on Friday.

Bigfork 52, Whitefish 36

Bigfork 12     7     20     13     —     52

Whitefish 13     7     7     9     —     36

BIGFORK — Adam Jordt 8, Isaac Martel 17, Tyler Piazzola 5, Jonathon Landon 4, Josh Sandry 15, Ryder Trent 3.

WHITEFISH — Brian FauntLeRoy 5, AJ Wetsch 14, Cody Olson 4, Luke May 2, Jack Streibich 9, Chaffin Ross 2.

Bigfork 79, St. Ignatius 50

St. Ignatius     12     9     18     11     —     50

Bigfork     17     22     24     16     —     79

ST. IGNATIUS — Dennis Fischer-Ahenakeu 3, Tate Weingart 5, Gentry Brown 12, Nick Durglo 5, Aaron Fischer-Ahenakeu 17, Will Powell 2, Bill Von Holtum 6.

BIGFORK — Matt Farrier 3, Adam Jodrt 12, Joseph Potkonjak 4, Isaac Martel 15, Tyler Piazzola 7, Jonathan Landon 15, Josh Sandry 14, Ryder Trent 5, Lloyd 4.

THE VALKYRIES chalked up two solid wins last week, both on the road. Bigfork toppled Whitefish 42-22 on Thursday, outscoring Whitefish 18-7 in the third quarter. Lana Berg led the Vals with 13 points. Riley Coleman and Josie Spoklie returned to the court after coming back from injuries and each contributed a couple of buckets to the win.

On Tuesday the Vals visited St. Ignatius and left victorious 57-41.

Paced by Miranda Campbell’s double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, the Bigfork Valkyries stormed victory.

Marissa Hiza also scored 10 points while grabbing nine boards for Bigfork. Lana Berg finished with 20 points.

The Vals will return home this week against Columbia Falls at 6 p.m.

Bigfork 42, Whitefish 22

Bigfork    9    6    18    9    —    42

Whitefish   2    8    7    5    —    22

BIGFORK — Haile Norred 1, Marissa Hiza 2, Riley Coleman 4, Jaime Berg 5, Mattison McAnally 2, Katie Thomas 7, Lana Berg 13, Josie Spoklie 2, Miranda Campbell 6.

WHITEFISH — Dani Douglas 4, Allie Schulz 9, Katie Fyall 2, Mariah Drown 2, Anna Peterson 2, Cevana Lawshe 1, Makenna Benbrook 2.

 Bigfork 57, St. Ignatius 41

Bigfork    6    16    15    20    —    57

St. Ignatius    8    7    7    19    —    41

BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza 10, Jamie Berg 1, Jordan Haveman 2, Mattison McAnally 5, Katie Thomas 9, Lana Berg 20, Miranda Campbell 10.

ST. IGNATIUS — Sydney Castor 5, Irene Lopez 25, Jordyn Eichert 2, Trinity Lewandowski 4, Shania Dubois 5.