Class B Powerhouses Split On The Hardwood

Two Class B powerhouse schools faced off in Missoula Tuesday night at the Ram Athletic Center as Bigfork made its way south to play Loyola in a doubleheader that found the two schools splitting the night.

It was ladies first on the hardwood in a game that the Breakers could use to build their confidence by beating one of the top teams in Class B girls basketball in the Bigfork Valkyries. Loyola came out hot, but the Valkyries settled in and soon took over the lead, holding it until late in the third quarter when the Breakers mounted a come back. Despite a late Loyola surge Bigfork held a five point lead to start the fourth quarter, that’s when Loyola’s Lani Walker and Sydney Koppang took over and willed the breakers past Bigfork for a 62-56.

Game two on the night was billed to be just as electrifying as the first with the boys capping the night off in a game that saw both teams make runs, but in the end Bigfork’s Logan Gilliard was to polished for the Rams. Things started in favor of Gilliard and the Vikings as the 6’4 senior scored eight of the Vikings 15 points in the opening quarter, and had a total of 15 at the half. Things looked to go the Rams way in the third quarter when Loyola out scored Bigfork 19-10, but the Vikings flexed the competitive muscle and Anders Epperly stepped up at the free throw line to secure a 70-65 win for Bigfork over Loyola.