Bigfork’s speed and stellar play around the basket won out in the end as the Vikings upended Ronan 85-60 in the Western B divisional boys basketball tournament opener on Thursday at Flathead High School.

The top-ranked Vikings (20-1) and defending divisional champions broke away with a fast start, withstood a run by Ronan to open the second half, and eventually put the game to rest with a strong finish.

“It was a fun game with Ronan,” Bigfork coach Sam Tudor said.

“They ran with us.”

Bigfork did a lot of scoring off its fast break and with Josh Sandry, a 6-foot-2 senior, picking up 16-tough points in the paint. He was 7 of 11 shooting from the field and went 2 of 5 at the free-throw line.

“He’s the real deal,” Tudor said of Sandry.

“He’s a Division I athlete and he showed it today. He gets up for big games like this.”

Sandry also had six rebounds.

Isaac Martel led Bigfork’s balanced attack with 21 points.

Ryder Trent buried three treys en route to an 11-point performance.

Adam Jordt added 10 points.

Cedric Earthboy topped Ronan in scoring with 19 points. He also had 11 rebounds.

Colton McCrea followed with 14 points.

Bigfork outrebounded Ronan 44-34.

The Vikings had just two turnovers to 11 for Ronan.

Bigfork held a 10-point advantage after the first period, 23-13, and led 45-30 at the half.

Ronan scored the first eight points of the second half, including a trey by Earthboy, as the Chiefs slipped to within seven of the Vikings. That’s as close as Ronan would get.

A couple layups by Martel and Jordt along with an offensive rebound and putback by Sandry help Bigfork move back in front by 15 points. Trent ended the quarter with a trey, keeping Bigfork on top 60-45.

“That was a tough team,” Tudor said of Ronan.

“They would make runs at us and we would have to regroup.”

The victory advances Bigfork to semifinal play today versus Florence at 4 p.m.

Ronan drops into loser-out action today at 8 a.m. versus Eureka.

Ronan    13    17    17    13    —    60

Bigfork    23    22    15    25    —    85

RONAN — Cedric Earthboy 7 4-7 19, Colton McCrea 4 4-5 14, Bryce Cullen 2 0-0 4, Justin Krahn 2 0-0 6, Jeremiah North Peigan 2 0-0 4, Jackson Duffey 1 0-0 3, Rhett Duffey 3 1-2 10.

BIGFORK —  Adam Jordt 4 2-4 10, Isaac Martel 9 2-2 21, Jonathan Landon 2 1-2 5, Josh Sandry 7 2-5 16, Ryder Trent 3 2-4 11, Joseph Potkonjak 2 2-4 7, Tyler Piazzolla 2 1-3 5, George Gibson 1 0-0 2, Garrett Beville 2 2-4 6, Grant Ozegovich 1 0-0 2.

Florence 53, Eureka 46

Steady shooting at the free-throw line allowed Florence to hold off a late charge by the Bohne boys and Eureka.

Florence scored 19 of its final 23 points at the charity stripe to advance to today’s semifinal game with Bigfork at 4 p.m.

Eureka falls to loser-out action with Ronan at 8 a.m.

Florence hit 9 of 10 free throws in the last 1:51 to seal it. For the game, the Falcons were 22 of 30.

“This time of the year it’s all about finishing games and advancing,” Florence coach Boone Nelson said.

“They (Trey Bohne and Chase Bohne) can really get it going. They knocked down some big shots.”

Trey Bohne led all scorers with 24 points.

Chase Bohne added 15.

The brothers accounted for 10 of Eureka’s 13 first-half points.

Eureka, which held two early leads, was down six, 35-29, heading into the final eight minutes. Two free throws by Chase Bohne with 5:52 remaining had the Lions back within two, 37-35, but two turnovers and three missed shots during a two-minute stretch allowed Florence to move back in front, 44-38.

A 3 by Trey Bohne and a basket inside by a driving Chase Bohne had Eureka within striking distance again, this time down by three, 46-43, with 1:01 to play. But Florence hit 7 of 8 free throws to ice it.

On the other end, Eureka made it to the free-throw line just eight times for the game, making six.

Jake Christopherson paced Florence with 18 points. Travern Smith was next with 17.

Levi Clagett had eight points and 10 rebounds for Florence.

Florence won the battle of the boards, 36-24.

RJ Glover had seven rebounds to lead Eureka.

Eureka    7    6    16    17    —    46

Florence    9    11    15    18    —    53

EUREKA — Trey Bohne 9 2-2 24, RJ Glover 1 1-2 3, Chase Bohne 5 3-4 15, Brandon Conard 2 0-0 4.

FLORENCE — Brandon Johnson 0 1-2 1, Levi Clagett 1 6-6 8, Travern Smith 5 7-8 17, Jake Christopherson 6 5-6 18, Dan Mickelson 3 2-6 8, Jesse Grabowska 0 1-2 1.

Loyola 70, Plains 46

Eleven players figured in the scoring as a balanced Loyola squad was too strong for Plains.

Sam Johnston led the Loyola point parade with 14. Danner Linhart and Braden Burke were next with 10 each.

Ryan Ovitt topped Plains, and all scorers, with 16 points.

Loyola advances to semifinal action today at 5:45 p.m. versus Deer Lodge.

Plains fall into loser-out play at 9:40 a.m. versus Thompson Falls.

Missoula Loyola    16    16    24    14    —    70

Plains    6    11    19    10    —    46

MISSOULA LOYOLA — Noah Pohlman 0 1-2 1, Tommy Tirrell 2 0-0 5, Braden Burke 4 2-5 10, Parker Davis 2 0-0 4, Kevin Swanson 2 2-2 7, Stephen Sellman 1 2-6 4, Carson Christian 0 4-4 4, Mike Vancanagan 4 0-0 8, Kellen Round 0 0-1 0, Danner Linhart 3 4-4 10, Strother Cooper 1 1-2 3, Sam Johnston 6 1-2 14.

PLAINS — Ryan Ovitt 5 5-10 16, Aaren Vonhelder 2 2-2 6, Trent Brouillette 2 2-5 6, Alec Cole 1 0-0 2, Kyle Revier 2 0-1 8, Cole Benson 0 0-2 0, Aaron Baker 2 0-0 5, Brenen Abromeit 1 1-2 3.

Deer Lodge 62,

Thompson Falls 60

Jacob Simpson scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter as Deer Lodge edged Thompson Falls.

Deer Lodge, down 47-41 after three quarters, outscored Thompson Falls 21-13 after that.

Quade McQueary added 12 points for Deer Lodge.

Dylan Vaught dropped in 21 points for Thompson Falls. Tanner Laws tallied 11 and Trais Hoisington 10.

Deer Lodge moves on to semifinal action today at 5:45 p.m. versus Missoula Loyola.

Thompson Falls meets Plains in a loser-out test at 9:40 a.m.

Deer Lodge    14    14     13    21    —    62

Thompson Falls    18    14    15    13    —    60

DEER LODGE — Derek Walker 3 0-0 8, Cade Benjamin 2 1-2 6, Quade McQueary 5 2-4 12, Jacob Simpson 7 6-10 20, Andrew Pierson 4 0-0 8, Brandon Porter 4 0-0 8.

THOMPSON FALLS — Mack Holt 1 1-1 3, Trais Hoisington 5 0-1 10, Tanner Laws 3 2-2 11, Dylan Vaught 9 3-9 21, Joe Lundberg 1 0-0 2, Joe Frields 2 0-0 6, Dalton Hooten 2 0-0 5, Tyler Riffle 0 2-2 2.

Girls

Western B Semifinals

Bigfork 44,

Missoula Loyola 36

Bigfork hit a 3-pointer and made five free throws in the final two minutes to complete a comeback win against Missoula Loyola-Sacred Heart in the Western B semifinals.

Lana Berg had a game-high 13 points to lead the Valkyries, who advanced to play Plains in the finals. Tessa Burke and Kayla Resner each had 10 for the Breakers.

Bigfork    7    7    13    17    —    44

Loyola    12    6    10    8    —    36

BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza 8, Jaime Berg 4, Matti MacAnally 5, Katie Thomas 5, Lana Berg 13, Miranda Campbell 9.

LOYOLA — Olina Rand 2, Mikayla Schreiar 2, Tessa Burke 10, Kelsey Tinte 5, Sami Worster 5, Bicolee Kolar 2, Kayla Resner 10.

Plains 42, Ronan 40

Plains scored 22 points in the second quarter and led by nine with eight minutes to play in its Western B semifinal game against Ronan, but needed to hold tight for a narrow victory.

The Maidens outscored Plains 14-7 in the final quarter but needed just a bit more to send the game into an extra period.

Alicia Camel scored a game-high 13 points to lead Ronan.

Leah Thompson had 11 for Plains.

Ronan    10    8    8    14    —    40

Plains    4    22    9    7    —    42

RONAN — Micalann McCrea 4, Jordyn Clairmont 2, Aspen Jane 3, Haley O’Hern 2, Alicia Camel 13, Kendra Steukel 7, Lee Camel 9.

PLAINS — Kimberly Earhart 6, Sami Kinzie 5, Jade Ladeaux 2, Carey Vonheeder 7, Hailey Philips 3, Kayla Holmes 8, Leah Thompson 11.