WHITEFISH — Braeden and Paeten Gunluck combined for 28 points Thursday, and the Bigfork Valkyries knocked off Butte Central 51-24 in the first round of the Western A Divisional tournament.

The win was the 16th straight for the 17-2 Valkyries, the regular-season champions of the Northwestern A.

Butte Central’s quest for a berth in the next week’s Class A State tournament is still alive, however. The Maroons (7-14) will play Ronan (11-8) in a 9 a.m. loser-out game. Ronan fell 59-29 to the 18-1 Dillon Beavers in the first game of the tournament.

The top four teams advance to the Class A State tournament, which is next week in Billings.

Braeden Gunlock, a 6-foot senior, scored 14 points to match her sister Paeten, a 5-9 junior. Senior Keni Wade added 12 points for the Valkyries, who sank seven 3-pointers in the win.

Freshman Zayonna Otherbull hit two threes and scored 11 points to lead the Maroons, who led 9-5 before Ronan took over.

Sophomore Rylee Forbes and junior Caden Tippett each scored four points for BC. Tippett converted a four-point play after hitting a three and drawing a foul.

The Maroons got two points apiece from sophomore Marly Mansanti and junior Arika Stajcar. Freshman Kenzie McQueary scored one.

Freshmen Braelynn Schelin, Evyn Smith, Natalie Osterman and Jaedyn Maldonado and sophomore Meika Boyer also contributed for the Maroons in the win.

BUTTE CENTRAL (7-14) —, Kenzie McQueary 0 1-2 1, Zayonna Otherbull 3 3-4 11, Rylee Forbes 1 2-4 4, Braelynn Schelin 0 0-0 0, Arika Stajcar 1 0-2 2, Evyn Smith 0 0-0 0, Marly Mansanti 1 0-0 2, Meika Boyer 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Maldonado 0 0-2 0, Natalie Osterman 0 0-0 0, Caden Tippett 1 1-1 4. Totals 7 7-15 24.
BIGFORK (17-2) — Chloe Norred 0 0-0 9, Keni Wade 4 2-3 12, Braeden Gunlock 5 2-3 14, Somer Campos 0 1-4 1, Paeten Gunlock 4 5-6 14, Keegan Campbell 2 0-0 6, Leah Gibb 0 0-0 0, Payton DeSpain 0 1-2 1, Ceiley Jensen 0 0-0 0, Desi Dell 0 0-0 0, Millie Hall 1 1-2 3. Totals 16 12-20 51.
Central           8          0          8          8 — 24
Bigfork           15        16        13        7 — 51
3-poing goals — BC 3 (Otherbull 2, Tippett), Ronan 7 (Wade 2, B. Gunlock 2, Campbell 2, P. Gunlock). Fouls — BC 21, Ronan 12. Fouled out — none. Techncials — none.