Bigfork Boys Basketball Aims to Repeat

The 2018 season for the Bigfork Vikings was nothing short of perfection: 24-0 and a state title. Despite a new year and new roster, conference competition remains fierce. “I feel like we’ve always had a target on our back, teams are always out to get us. Loyola-Bigfork, that’s always been a big rivalry. Teams are definitely giving it their all when they play us this year I feel,” senior point guard Anders Epperly said. “I feel like at the beginning of the year we did with the undefeated record. Now, I’m sure teams are still gunning for us, but not as much. We’re not the same team as we were last year,” senior power forward Logan Gilliard said. “I’d say we’re kind of work in progress, we’ve lost two games that we didn’t really feel that we should’ve lost. But we’re still going to come back strong, we’ll be fine. I think it’ll be a good year.” Bigforks’ run at perfection in 2019 was shattered earlier this season at the hands of rival Deer Lodge and Loyola Sacred Heart. But for head coach Sam Tudor, who recently won his 100th career game at Bigfork, regular season imperfections are all a part of the winning process. “I would say that those losses….the only way you can take them is to look at them as a positive and learn from them,” Tudor said. “And that’s been kind of different dynamic this year that I didn’t have last year: the ability to lose the game and then learn from it. So, that has been an enjoyable thing to teach these boys, that it’s not the end of the world that you lose a game, as long as you learn from it and move on.” And moving on for this year’s Bigfork team means banding together. Without the talents of their former 6-foot-7 star Beau Santistevan, the Vikings are a different team—one focused on speed and passing. As the state record holder in assists, Anders Epperly is no stranger to sharing the ball. “We’re best when we’re unselfish and we’re passing the ball…it’s like a pinball machine out there and it’s bouncing around. And I think that we’ve all taught each other not to be selfish with the basketball and if not, the ball will come to you,” Epperly said. “Assists makes both guys happy I feel, that’s what I’ve always said, the guy that’s shooting it and the guy passing it. If you make a sweet pass, everyone on the team is going to congratulate you on that first so passing the ball is always fun, fun to watch and fun to play like that.” “That’s one thing that getting back to this team’s identity that we’re trying to develop this year is one of total unity, it shouldn’t just be one guy or two guys, it’s gotta be all of us right down to the bench…It’s been fun to watch,” Tudor said. Although this is a different year and a different team, the Vikings still have the same dream in mind: another state title.