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SPORTS JANUARY 22, 2014 | 61

ABOVE THE RIM

Continued from back page

BTy DILLON TABISH of the Beacon

HE COLLEGE SCOUTS AND
coaches at a few high-proile
basketball tournaments on the

East Coast last summer were
not there to see a prospect out of Bigfork,
Montana.
But after a couple games, it was hard
for anyone to take their eyes of Chris-
tian Evans.
The 6-foot-7 forward from the north-

ern shores of Flathead Lake showcased
his athleticism and ability among his
talented prep peers from across the na-
tion, averaging roughly 27 points and 13
rebounds in multiple prominent events
leading up to his senior year at Bigfork
High School.
As he puts it mildly, “I got some col-

leges’ attention.”
“That was pretty cool coming from
Montana where you don’t get that much
attention,” he says. “I was pretty stoked
about that.”
Evans’ visibility keeps increasing as
the season rolls along and undefeated

Bigfork (10-0) surges past all level of op-
ponents. Last weekend Evans sank the Bigfork senior Christian Evans is a high-lying star on the talented Vikings basketball team. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
game-winning 3-pointer with four sec-
onds remaining to lift Bigfork over Class
B rival Florence in overtime, 48-46. Ev- want Jef Hays from Hell- been injecting into the program.
ans scored two decisive free throws at gate calling me tomorrow “We hadn’t played anyone where we
the end of regulation to send the game and scheduling a game, but went into it thinking maybe the other
into overtime.
I do (believe that). I’ve told team was better than we were,” Downey

Two weeks ago against Columbia these kids that.”
says. “I was anxious to see what their re-
Falls, a perennial Class A contender that Downey took over the sponse would be,”
rarely loses to any team in any division, basketball program, and The response was unequivocal. Be-
Evans scored 28 points, grabbed 10 re- activities director posi- hind Evans’ lead, Bigfork jumped ahead
bounds and captained the visiting Vi- tion at the high school, in right away and never backed down
kings past the Wildcats, 53-42.
the ofseason after Kurt against a tall, physical Columbia Falls
“He put up a monster game against Paulson accepted an assis- team that rarely loses in front of its rau-
us. We didn’t have an answer,” said long- tant coaching position at cous home crowd.

time Columbia Falls head coach Cary the University of Montana. “We just know we can beat anybody,
Finberg, crediting Evans’ size, athleti- Downey played on the 1998 it doesn’t’ matter what class they’re in,”
cism and calm demeanor.
Bigfork team that advanced Evans says.
“He puts up numbers every night. As to the Class A state tourna- He grew up in Bigfork with a basket-
a fan, those are the types of players I love ment, the irst time a Vi- ball in his hand. The neighbors grew ac-
to watch, and as a coach those are the Bigfork senior Christian Evans (33) goes up to block a shot kings squad qualiied for customed to seeing him outside playing
types of players you want on your team.”
during last week’s practice. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
the postseason in 14 years. on his family’s hoop. By freshman year,

The Columbia Falls game was one The group made it back a
he was throwing down slam-dunks. His
of the latest, and best, examples of Big- skills developed quickly with his height, Last year’s team won the confer- year later, Downey’s senior season, and
fork’s renewed stature this season. It and by sophomore year he was a solid ence and district titles and rolled into after that he went on to play at Concor-
was also another illustration of why presence within Bigfork’s rising basket- the Class B state tournament with a 19-4 dia University. He had multiple coaching
Evans is considered one of the best all- ball program. By junior year he was all- record and state title aspirations. Malta stints, including as a graduate assistant
around players, for any classiication, in state and leading the Vikings to one of its eventually bumped Bigfork 47-35 in the under Mark Few at Gonzaga during the
Montana.
best seasons in school history.
semiinal round, the second straight team’s high-proile 2005-06 season with
“I look at his stats and I don’t know Basketball remains the only sport season the Vikings fell in the semiinals. Adam Morrison.

where he can get much better,” said Josh in which the high school has not won a Malta went on to defeat Wolf Point for When the opportunity arose to re-
Downey, a 1999 Bigfork graduate and the championship. The team has only played its second consecutive championship, turn home, Downey uprooted his family
team’s new head coach.
in one title game, losing a nail-biter in and the victory extended the dominat- and moved back to Bigfork.
Evans is averaging 21 points and 10 1983 to Conrad, 75-74. The runner-up ing streak of teams from the eastern Now settled in, Downey has a lot of
rebounds this season, and the Vikings trophy sits tucked atop the trophy case half of the state. Of the current align- conidence in this Vikings team, and Ev-
are of to another dominant start this at the school, near the basketball court ment, no team from the West has won a ans is a large reason why.
winter.
where the team practices every day.
Class B boys basketball state champion- Against Eureka, the agile senior

Evans is the top returning play- After falling short of playing for a ship since 1987, when Plains edged Wolf scored 30 points in basically three quar-
er from last season’s squad and has a championship the past two seasons, Point, 85-81.
ters of action. He racked up 23 points in
strong supporting cast around him that Evans and his teammates are eager to It’s still early in the new season, but less than three quarters against Troy.
includes Josh Sandry, Cameron Nissen, break through.
beware of Bigfork.
Against Class A Whiteish, Evans scored
Jon Landon and Isaac Martel.
“I think we could do some damage at “This is the best high school team a game-high 17 points and guided the
Only three seniors dot the roster, state this year,” Evans says. “That’s our I’ve ever coached,” says Downey, who Vikes to a 50-38 win. Another Class A
but there’s plenty of experience rising goal at the end of the season: we really led top-ranked basketball teams in the foe, Corvallis, fell victim in the season
through the ranks for a program that has want to get a shot at it, and I think we can highest classiication levels in Wash- opener, 60-53, as Evans scored 21 points.

re-established itself in recent years as a do it.”
ington and Idaho before taking over But the Columbia Falls game rein-
force on the court.
[email protected]
his alma mater. “That doesn’t mean I
forced all the conidence Downey has