District 7B: Bigfork team to beat

Each of Bigfork’s basketball teams were in transition at this time a year ago.

And it didn’t really matter.

Under first year head coaches, Bigfork’s boys and girls squads dominated District 7B and each advanced to the state tournament last season, and with both mentors back at the helm, their teams sit poised to build on that success this winter.

But that doesn’t mean they will run through the year unchallenged. Libby’s move to Class B presents a new obstacle for the Vikings and Valkyries, and the rest of the district is continuing to improve as they chase down Bigfork.

With the season already underway, here’s a look at District 7B entering 2016:

Boys

Bigfork

The Vikings are now two years removed from an undefeated state championship and will be led by a pair of seniors who each contributed to that title run.

Adam Jordt was a starter on the 2013-14 team and will once again partner with classmate Jonathan Landon to give the Vikings a potent 1-2 punch. Landon was a first team All-Conference honoree as a junior, averaging 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. Jordt, the Vikings’ point guard, averaged 6.7 points per game last year.

The Vikings must replace three all-conference players, including all-state star Josh Sandry, who is now playing football at the University of Montana. Isaac Martel now plays his basketball at Rocky Mountain College and second team pick Ryder Trent is also gone.

That means a much bigger role for Jordt and Landon, a pair of friends who their coach believes are ready to take the next step in their basketball careers.

“They’ve both been playing from the time they were in diapers,” Bigfork coach Sam Tudor said. “They key so well off each other and they fit in well, so that’s some diversity that we didn’t have last year.”

The Vikings other key could be freshman Anders Epperly, who’s already been contributing as Bigfork’s starting point guard this month.

“(Epperly) compliments us well because he takes some pressure off Jordt by handling the ball,” Tudor said.

Eureka

The Lions played Bigfork as well as anyone a year ago, dropping a pair of games by a combined 11 points, but this season there are major holes to fill.

Senior Trey Bohne, who averaged more than 18 points per game and was an all-state pick last season is gone, but so too is his standout younger brother, Chase, who is now playing at Southern Alberta High School in Canada.

The loss of the Bohne brothers means Eureka must replace nearly all of its scoring from a year ago, including Chase, their leading scorer at 20.5 points per game.

Eureka’s top-scoring returnee, Brad Stein, scored eight points, total, as a sophomore, but the openings have created new opportunities. Stein scored 18 points in Eureka’s December 15 loss to Ronan.

Libby

One of the biggest threats to Bigfork might be the Loggers in their first season in Class B.

Last season, their final in Class A, the Loggers were just 2-18, but Libby brings back most of its starting lineup and adds gifted freshman Ryggs Johnston to the mix. The Loggers have already matched their win total of a year ago after a pair of wins at the Tip-Off Tournament in Missoula.

“We have an opportunity, if we come together and everybody accepts their role and does their job, to make some noise,” second-year coach Josh Bean said. 

“The seniors, realistically, have won four games in four years and want to win. They’ve been working hard in practice and dragging people with them. It’s been a really fun start to the year.”

Jonny Cielak leads that senior group after averaging 10.2 points per game last season. He’ll be joined by returning starters Eric Lauer and Zander Petersen. Anthony Johnson, a senior transfer from Missoula Big Sky, will also be counted on to contribute.

Troy

After a disappointing end to his final season of prep football, Troy superstar Sean Opland will try and carry his Trojans squad to the postseason on the hardwood.

Opland, who will play football at Montana State next fall, will be joined by fellow returning seniors Adam Tallmadge and Kolton Winebark as the Trojans look to build on last year’s 6-13 record under second-year coach Jerry Mee.

“We’re not real tall but we work hard,” Mee said. “We’ll go cliché and just play it game by game and do our best.”

Girls

Bigfork

Few teams in Class B will be able to match the Valkyries’ size, with coach Jami Grende expected to lean on a frontcourt that would rival just about any program in the state.

Six-foot-two Miranda Campbell anchors the middle alongside sisters Jaime (6-0) and Lana (5-10) Berg, but Bigfork’s bigs only run if senior point guard Mattison McAnally presses the right buttons.

“We’re pretty big, but some people think that because you’re big you’re slow,” Grende said. “That’s where Mattie (McAnally) is really large. She’s quick and she’s the spark plug of the team.”

The Vals finished 19-6 last season, advancing to the state tournament before being eliminated with a pair of close losses. With a senior-heavy team, Grende sees bigger things potentially on deck this winter.

“It looks pretty promising,” she said. “I think everybody knows we have the tools to take this team to state. There are high expectations for us and there’s no reason we shouldn’t be back.”

Eureka

The Lions bring back their leading scorer, Amanda Peterson, who will look to push Eureka deep into the postseason in her senior campaign.

Not just the team’s leading scorer at just under 14 points per game last season, Peterson was the Lions’ leading rebounder (6.3 per game), too, and was a second team all-conference selection.

Junior Stacy Cooper and sophomore Erynn Their also return to give the Lions plenty of varsity experience on the roster. Cooper averaged more than four points and four rebounds last year.

Libby

In its first year in District 7B, Libby adds a new obstacle for Bigfork to overcome. 

The Loggers should be balanced this year, and will need to be following the graduation of first team all-conference honoree Shyla Stevenson.

Shannon Reny and Madisen Monigold have thus far been the Loggers top offensive weapons.

Troy

The Trojans’ Allie Coldwell is one of the more capable scorers in Class B, but the challenge for Troy will be to find other offensive options.

Just a sophomore, Coldwell earned second team all-conference accolades in her first varsity season and will shoulder a heavy load this year.