Falls boys fall in Eureka

Although they had a chance at winning in the late going, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk boys fell 42-41 to the Eureka Lions in Eureka Friday. Coach Jake Mickelson and his Hawks also dropped a 72-23 decision to Loyola in Missoula Thursday.

With only two weeks of regular season play remaining, the Hawks will host Mission Thursday in their only game this week.

Mickelson said scoring was the problem in Eureka, even though Thompson Falls still had a chance to win, but missed two free throws that would have won it with only six-something seconds left.

"That was a tough one," he said. "We had trouble scoring but worked our tails off to stay in the game. We just seemed to have trouble scoring in the second half and eventually paid for that in the end." The Hawks led 27-21 in the first half but lost the second half 21-14.

Ethan Brown scored 12 points to lead the Hawks in Eureka, Riley Riffle eight, Ryan Schraeder six, Nathan Schraeder five, Brian Henry and Nate Wilhite four apiece and Trey Fisher two.

Scoring for Eureka was not available.

The Hawks never really had a chance in the game with Loyola as the Rams, the No. 2 ranked Class B team in the state, steaked out to a lead of 21-8 after one quarter and extended that lead to 41-15 at halftime.

Brown again led Hawk scoring, this time with eight points, Riffle added five, Nathan Schraeder and Wilhite three each, and Ben Beauchman and Fisher two apiece.

Jack Lincoln (14 points), Cooper Waters (11) and Jaden Job (10) led Loyola.