COLUMBIA FALLS — Another year, another district title for the Bigfork Valkyries.

The defending 7B champions repeated by draining seven free throws in the final 2:11 to preserve their lead, claiming a 50-38 victory over the Plains Trotters on Saturday night.

The Valkyries, who shot 41 total free throws, were 54 percent from the charity stripe and used a stifling 2-3 zone defense to hold the Trotters scoreless in the final 2:20 of the game.

After Katie Thomas’ back-door cut led to a layup, giving the Valkyries their largest lead of the night, the Trotters made a run to cut into the 13-point deficit with an 8-0 spurt, highlighted by a huge Jade LaDeaux 3-pointer.

It was the last points for Plains as five different Valkyries made it to the free-throw line to ice the game.

“It was a team effort. Plains is a great team and we came out ready to play tonight,” Bigfork head coach Jami Grende said. “Usually we start a little slow, but not tonight. Even without Matti McAnally, to beat Plains by 12 is a huge accomplishment for the group of girls. They earned it.”

Four Valkyries had eight points or more, including Lana Berg, whose double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds led all players in each category.

Riley Coleman and Miranda Campbell finished with eight points each while Thomas poured in 11.

“I’m proud of all these girls. It was a team effort, and that’s what you need. A one-man show isn’t going to win you a lot of games,” Grende said.

Plains kicked off the contest on an 8-2 run within the first 2:51.

Leah Thompson, who finished with five points, hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc and Kimberly Earhart nearly had another, draining a long 2-point field goal.

Earhart also tallied five points in the game, and senior Hailey Phillips notched a team-high 11 points.

Bigfork’s Thomas would hit two catch-and-shoot treys off inbound passes from Marissa Hiza to stop the Trotters momentum.

Switching to a zone in the second quarter, Bigfork held Plains to four just four points in the period to take a 24-21 advantage into the break.

The Valkyries won their second game against Plains this year after splitting the regular season series by a combined three points.

“We tend to rise to the occasion. The last few times we played Plains it wasn’t pretty” Grende said. “I really felt the girls played a great game tonight all around. The score showed it.”

The Valkyries will now open the divisional tournament at Flathead High with a 6 p.m. matchup against Florence on Wednesday.

Bigfork 14 10 15 11 — 50

Plains 17 4 7 10 — 38

BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza 0 2-6 2, Riley Coleman 1 5-9 8, Jaime Berg 0 5-8 5, Katie Thomas 4 1-2 11, Lana Berg 4 5-10 13, Josie Spoklie 1 0-0 3, Miranda Campbell 2 4-6 8. Totals — 12 22-41 50.

PLAINS — Kimberly Earhart 2 0-1 5, Sami Kinzie 3 0-3 6, Jade LaDeaux 1 0-0 3, Carley Vontleeder 1 2-4 4, Hailey Phillips 3 5-9 11, Kayla Holmes 2 0-0 4, Leah Thompson 2 0-0 5. Totals — 14 7-17 38.

Consolation Final

Thompson Falls 43,

Troy 32

COLUMBIA FALLS — With the score tied at five after the first quarter, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks held Troy to just two points in the second period to pull away for the victory.

Logan Beckman scored 14 points to lead the Blue Hawks. Troy was led by Allie Caldwell’s 12-point effort.

Troy 5 2 13 12 — 32

Thompson Falls 5 12 11 15 — 43

TROY — Olivia Roach 2, Aurora Bequart 9, Taylor Brown 3, Allie Caldwell 12, Kaitlyn Downey 3, Allie Brown 3.

THOMPSON FALLS — Lindsay Laws 8, Shey Hannum 8, Sierra Sorlie 2, Made Fittchell 3, Autrey Hannum 8, Logan Beckman 14.