To be the best, they say, you have to beat the best.

Losing can be a measuring stick to see where you are at and where you need to go.

For the Plains boys and girls basketball teams, the harsh reality of the moment last Tuesday night was that Bigfork is has two of the best teams in both boys and girls Western 7B basketball.

The home standing Valkyries roughed up the young Plains Horsemen, who came in with a 3-2 record on the year, by a final score of 77-15.

The girls, meanwhile, ran into a buzz saw defense that swarmed all over them in a 69-8 win for the Lady Valkyries. Both games were in Bigfork.

Bigfork’s Lady Valkyries, last year’s 7B champions with a 9-1 conference mark and a 25-2 overall record, showed they are still a state contender as they got off to a 28-2 first quarter lead over the Trotters on their way to a dominating league win.

The taller, more experienced Lady Valkyries had four players score in double figures during the game, paced by Pateten Gunlock, who had 15 points. Her sister Braeden Gunlock added 14 to the Bigfork cause.

By halftime, Bigfork had exploded to a 47-4 lead as their defense limited the Trotters to just two points in each of the four quarters against the young and improving Plains team.

The win boosted Bigfork to 4-0 in 7B play and 6-0 overall on the young season.

Plains, which had picked up it’s first two victories of this year after going 0-12 last season, fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league games.

Plains’ boys didn’t have much luck either against the host team. Bigfork bolted out to a 17-7 first quarter lead and never trailed as they picked up their third 7B win against no losses.

The Valkyries built a 47-12 halftime lead by outscoring Plains 30-5 in the second quarter. They expanded their lead in the second half to lift their overall record to 4-2.

Plains fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in league play with the loss.

Both teams return to action after the first of the year.

Plains boys and girls teams travel to Eureka Friday, January 6 for games against the Lions, then return home Saturday, January 7 for a pair of afternoon games against Florence-Carlton.