Where's the defense?

The Blue Hawks found some offense, now they need to find a little defense to go with it.

Coach Jake Mickelson and his Hawks lost a high-scoring 88-85 decision to Gardiner in the second round of the Three Forks Invitational Saturday, and left the Hawks asking themselves a nagging question.

“We are trying to figure out how we can score 85 points and still lose,” Mickelson said. “We came alive on offense against Gardiner, now we just need to figure out how to rebound and defend better.”

Now 0-3 after also losing to Big Timber 75-58 Friday in Three Forks, the Hawks will host two non-conference games this weekend, entertaining Florence Friday and Valley Christian Saturday. Thompson Falls will play at Plains in yet another non-conference game Tuesday.

The game with Gardiner featured lots of offensive fireworks. The Hawks took a 66-65 lead into the fourth quarter after the teams poured in 31 points apiece in a wild and wooly third quarter.

Playing in his first games of the year last week after breaking a collarbone during football season, Nate Thiebault scored 24 points, pulled down six rebounds, dished off seven assists and came up with four steals.

Adding to his impressive point total for the season, Danny Hoisington added 21 points and corralled 17 rebounds, while also grabbing seven steals and passing out three assists, Peyton Frields had 18 points and seven borads and Dylan Beckman 13 points and seven assists.

Grant Lundberg scored seven points and five rebounds and Michael Johnson two points and four rebounds against Gardiner.

The Hawks fell behind 27-19 after one quarter and 46-29 after two in the loss to Big Timber Friday. Hoisington was good for 26 points and 13 rebounds in that game but no other Hawks player managed more than three rebounds, adding up to a big problem on the boards for Thompson Falls.

Frields added 14 points, including a 4 for 5 effort from 3-point land, Thibeault scored eight, Beckman six and Lundberg and Johnson two apiece.

Beckman passed out eight assists and Thibeault five, Thibeault grabbed four steals, Hoisington three and Beckman two, and Hoisington also blocked two Big Timber shot attempts.

Kell Schwers counted 20 points to lead Big Timber, Jacob Roberts added 18 and Ethan Bullock 13.