LITTLEFORK — Littlefork-Big Falls has hit its first slump of the season, losing Tuesday 55-52 to a Bigfork team that came in with only two wins.
Rick Flom led the Huskies with 17 points and nine rebounds and Andrew Anderson added 10 points. Tony Anselmo had nine points and five assists and Zac Lovdahl posted nine points and six rebounds.
Garrett Larson led the Vikings with a game-high 18 points. Jesse Steele registered 14 points and Zach Stencel had nine points. No other Viking had more than five points.
“We’re not shooting well right now,” Vikings head coach Jeff Maish said.
L-BF also turned the ball over a ton Tuesday, and made only 10 of 18 free throws just days removed from shooting 8 of 17 in a 62-59 loss to Northland.
“We just need to make them. It’s the easiest shot in basketball besides a layup,” Maish said.
Bigfork (3-10), which came in with only one win over its past six games, never trailed in the second half. They used a harassing press to help force turnovers, and finished 14 of 21 from the line, including 8 of 12 over the final 4:45.
“We got some turnovers on our press and even our half-court defense was better tonight,” Huskies coach Chad Lovdahl said before shaking his head about almost letting the win slip away.
“But geez, we build that lead to 10, 9, and the next thing is it’s 5, 6,” he added.
The Vikings (6-4) rallied and turned an 8-point deficit with 6:35 to play into a 48-43 deficit with Steele at the line with 1:28 left. However, the senior missed the free throw and the teams exchanged free throws before Steele buried a 3-pointer to make it 54-50 with 22 seconds left.
Larson made two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to make it 54-52. The Vikings had a shot to tie after Lovdahl made just 1 of 2 free throws on the other end, but Steele’s long 3-pointer missed, giving the youthful Huskies — Flom is the only senior — their third win.
“We’re just young. We make those young mistakes,” coach Lovdahl said. “But it will come. That’s why it’s nice to win these close games. Gives them a little confidence.”
The Vikings are lacking confidence right now after dropping three of four, including two by three points.
“We lost three out of our last four. Are we in a funk? Absolutely,” Maish said. “But 6-4 isn’t the end of the world, either. We’ll be back.”
The Vikings will have a good chance to get back on track Tuesday when they return to action at winless Babbitt-Embarrass.
Game notes
• Anderson, an eighth-grader, received a technical foul during a physical stretch in the second half. Visibly frustrated by the officials, Anderson received the technical after slapping the gym floor in disgust.
• L-BF senior captain Kyle Burmeister was featured in Tuesday’s program. His teammates know him best for? Rebounding and hustle. Favorite pregame meal? Ramen noodles or pizza. What people don’t know about me? I have a dent in my right calf.
