Whitefish Girls Beat Bigfork in Thriller | Players & Coach React After Divisional Win

The Whitefish Lady Bulldogs are headed to the Montana Class A State Basketball Tournament after a gritty 39–37 win over Bigfork in the Western A Divisional third-place game in Hamilton!

In this episode of Keeping Score, reporter Luke Schmit catches up with freshman Avery Orme, Allie Shors, and head coach Bob Bolam moments after the victory. The young Bulldogs squad battled through a physical game, showcased strong team defense, and delivered clutch plays late to secure the win and bring home a divisional trophy — the program’s first in years.

Shors talks about the team’s chemistry and resilience, Orme reflects on her freshman season and the excitement of reaching state, and Coach Bolam explains why this young group has been able to execute in tight games all season long.

With momentum on their side, Whitefish now turns its focus to the Class A State Tournament in Great Falls, where the competition only gets tougher.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_03 1:25

This episode keeping school. I attended the third and fourth place game in the world's Western A Division. Quite a bit of big four, and I was able to catch up with a couple of their players and coach after the big victory. Before we start, I'd like to give a thank you to the Full Remoters for sponsoring this podcast. Let's not waste any time and get right to it.

SPEAKER_04 1:54

Okay, I'm here with Avery Orme of the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs after their third place victory over Big Fork. You're a freshman. Talk to me. How exciting is this for you? This is brand new culture, and you're already adapting it so well.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

It's really amazing. It's like a lot. It's really fun though, and it's really fun to play with all these girls too.

SPEAKER_04 2:12

What are some of the memories from this year already you have that you could share?

SPEAKER_02 2:15

Uh just like singing on the bus on the way home after like a good game and just like getting to know everyone and having fun and being able to be goofy with everyone I'm I noticed Big Fork was face guarding you last game.

SPEAKER_04 2:28

What do you try to do to try and counteract that? Do you try to maybe get your teammates more involved, or is there something you can do scoring-wise?

SPEAKER_02 2:34

I try to get my teammates to shoot outside and just get low for rebounds, and then I try to work them as hard as I can so that they get tired and so I can get open for my teammates and help them out.

SPEAKER_04 2:45

How excited are you for state basketball?

SPEAKER_02 2:48

I am so excited. It's gonna be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's gonna be the first time since 2021 that we're going um for the Whitefish Bulldogs, and it's gonna be really exciting and amazing to play.

SPEAKER_04 2:59

What's one thing you want to take from this tournament to the next? And also one thing you want to see your team do better?

SPEAKER_02 3:04

We definitely want to take like our team defense because we played really well as a team on defense, and we defin we're gonna work on our shooting and making our free throws when they count.

SPEAKER_04 3:14

Well, congrats on the win, Avery. I'm here with Allie Shores after their third place victory over Big Fork. Allie, how much did this win mean to you? Win mean to you, excuse me, and going forward, what can that do for you guys at state?

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Um, I mean, this win was amazing. Like both I like both teams were tired for sure, but having that grit and tenacity to come out in this game and you know finish, it shows a lot about our team and just our hard work and ethics. And in state, I think it's just gonna, you know, give us the further boost to go win those games up there.

SPEAKER_04 3:50

Ali, what about this season is special with these girls? You guys have beaten Columbia Falls, you haven't beaten in a long time. You've beaten Big Fork, you haven't beaten in a long time. What about this group of girls that is clicking so well?

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Um, I think just the friendships within the team. Um, I got some really wonderful girls on this team that I get to play with. Uh so that is makes the whole difference. And you know, everyone else wants to work hard, which is huge. But like I got all my best friends on this team, so I think that just helps with knowing where people are and just being able to play well together. I'll also been playing with some of these girls since second grade.

SPEAKER_04 4:23

So And that makes it even more special. You've been playing with them for so long. Talk to me, what are your expectations on the court next week and also off the court? How much fun are you guys gonna have?

SPEAKER_01 4:32

Oh, we're gonna try to soak every bit in. I mean, just enjoy the state tournament, live in the state tournament. I won't get the feeling of it because we haven't been there. So um I think just enjoy the experience and go work our butts off, and that's all you can ask.

SPEAKER_04 4:45

Last question to ask, Allie. You fouled out of the game, unfortunately. It was a tough refing game. I think it was physical both ways. Talk to me what your thoughts were when you fouled out and your team was still able to secure the victory.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

Uh, I was so proud of them. I knew that I knew that they got it. Um, even not if I it was kind of frustrating, yes, but I I knew that they could handle it by themselves. So I was so proud of them.

SPEAKER_04 5:04

I know.

unknown 5:11

Great.

SPEAKER_04 5:13

I'm here with Coach Bolum of the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs after their huge victory over Big Fork. Coach, how proud are you of your girls? What an amazing season.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

Yeah, I mean, it's been great. And you know, and uh uh after that tough nail biter this morning against Columbia Falls to get to this game and then have another one back to back, and they persevered through it, uh, coming back both times. Um, couldn't be more happier for a group of girls.

SPEAKER_04 5:36

What does that say about your group of girls with the resilience they have? I was just talking to Ali about how you guys have defeated Columbia Falls, Big Fork this year, some huge milestones. What about these girls as able to get that done?

SPEAKER_00 5:47

They're just, I mean, they're savvy girls, they're young, but a lot of them play so much basketball that they just understand what's going on. Uh, they listen really well, they work really well, you know, things we're trying to do, they they can pick up on and do. And you know, when you get in a tight game and we gotta draw some stuff up and they can execute it. So, I mean, it's just a fun group to work with. They're smart, uh, they have fun, they enjoy each other in the game, and can't ask for more than that.

SPEAKER_04 6:11

And coach, I gotta ask you the east side of the state is very competitive. What's your expectations? And what are you gonna try and do in this next week to prepare for it's gonna be a very competitive class A state tournament?

SPEAKER_00 6:21

Yeah, I mean, we know that that group over there is really tough to deal with. You know, it's interesting that when we went to state in 2021, you know, three of those teams were in it then too, you know, Billing Central, Haver, and Harden. So uh we're seeing old foes, I guess, in that sense. But we know they're tough. It's like playing Dylan, which you know, we had a tough time against Dillon last night. So we gotta get buckled up, play a little more, learn to have a little more pressure on us when we're playing, and uh and execute a little bit better.

SPEAKER_04 6:49

Last question I asked you, coach, what will you remember about this group of girls specifically?

SPEAKER_00 6:53

Oh, just the joy of what they're on their faces after these big wins. You can't beat that. I mean, that's what it's really all about in the long run. And you know, getting the first trophy for whitefish basketball in a long time. Uh, we'll take third place if we get the trophy, but yeah, just the joy and happiness that they are feeling uh is more than uh the wins themselves, actually.

SPEAKER_04 7:13

Well, coach, the western side of this state is very competitive. So a third place is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations, and we'll see you down at Great Falls.

SPEAKER_00 7:19

Thanks, Ed.