BIGFORK — The Maidens fought hard on both ends Tuesday night, but Paeten Gunlock was simply spectacular for the Valkyries.  

Gunlock swished four triples and scored 32 points to lead Bigfork past Ronan 68-44 in Northwest A girls basketball.  

“Trying to guard Paeten, that’s a handful, nobody’s found a way to do it yet in four years. We sure didn’t tonight either, so hats off to those guys,” Ronan coach Steve Woll said. “We just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. They’re a good team, number one in the conference for a reason. They deserve it.” 

Payton DeSpain made seven shots to add 14 for Bigfork (12-4 overall, 9-1 in Northwest A games) and Joise Vick contributed 10.  

“We had a lot of contributions, especially from some of our younger gals tonight, it’s always good to have a full contribution from the team overall,” Bigfork coach Isaac Martel said.  

Neveah Perez led Ronan (4-12, 3-7) with five baskets to score 12 points in the second half. Natalie Adams added 10 in the first half and Dallas St. Goddard chipped in eight.  

Gunlock scored 20 of her 32 points in the first half and capped it off with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, sending Bigfork into the break with a 32-20 lead.  

Bailee Woll and Perez scored the first baskets out of halftime for the Maidens, but Bigfork responded with layups from Emma Pargman and DeSpain to regain momentum. Gunlock and Eva Heil knocked down triples to stretch the lead to 51-30 Bigfork. 

Gunlock, who was 8 of 10 from the free throw line, credited the team’s growth.  

“I’m just proud of our team, we’re growing every game, chemistry is getting better at every practice and we’re just working harder and getting better,” she said. 

Both teams host their next game on Feb. 14. The Maidens meet Polson while Bigfork clashes with Whitefish at 5 p.m. 

Ronan    9    11    10    14    -    44  

Bigfork        13    19    19    17    -    68

RONAN — Maddy Illig 1 2-2 4, Kailyn Marengo 1 1-2 4, Dallas St. Goddard 3 1-2 8, Bailee Woll 1 0-0 2, Natalie Adams 3 3-5 10, Aiyjah Sherwood 0 1-4 1, Nefertiti Stewart 1 1-4 3, Neveah Perez 5 2-2 12. Totals 15 11-21 44. 

BIGFORK — Leah Gibb 0 0-0 0, Keegan Campell 0 0-0 0, Payton DeSpain 7 0-0 14, Eva Heil 2 0-0 6, Savanah Hedges 1 0-0 2, Joise Vick 5 0-0 10, Paeten Gunlock 10 8-10 32, Ione Plummer 0 0-0 0, Emma Pargman 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 8-10 68.  

3-point goals — Bigfork 6 (Gunlock 4, Heil 2), Ronan 3 (Adams, St. Goddard, Marengo). Fouls — Bigfork 18, Ronan 17. Fouled out — None.