Bluehawks playing tough ball in January

Matt Unrau

The new year so far has done wonders for the Thompson Falls Bluehawks. Although they still have a losing record in 2010 at 1-2 they pushed the conference-leading Bigfork Eagles at Bigfork, beat Charlo and played tough against one of the state’s best teams in Loyola on Saturday.

“I think we’re playing great. We had our chance to win against Bigfork. We led the whole game and it was point game with one and a half minutes left,” says Coach Chadd Laws who says his team’s strength is adapting to any different style of play, rebounding and limited the opponent’s field goal percentage.

“You want to try to be the best team in the gym every night, you don’t have to be the best team in the state just the best team in the gym,”says Laws.

They certainly were the best team in the gym on Thursday night as they used a big first quarter to cruise past Class C Charlo on Thursday night, 54-47.

Then on Saturday they had to turn around and face Loyola, a Class B powerhouse, and although the final score looked ugly, 71-40, Laws says it didn’t tell the true story of how the game went.

“That game was a lot closer than what the score indicated,” says Laws. Loyola made seven threes in the first half, but only made one in the second. The Bluehawks also outrebounded Loyola.

The tougher competition was the perfect tuneup for the Bluehawks before their rivalry showdown with Plains on Thursday.

“Probably more so in losses than wins you learn more about your team,” says Laws. We certainly gain a lot more by playing a higher level opponent.”

Challis Wilson led the Bluehawks in the game with 12 points. His strong play, along with Mike Wood and Will Dalby have been the main catalysts in the Bluehawks rapid improvement.

This week it’s back to fundamental work for the team before the big game on Thursday as they’re going to practice movement and spacing on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Thompson Falls has had good fortune in Plains the last few years. The last time the team lost in Plains was in 2005 by a score of 77-86 when senior star Trent Thompson’s older brother Brandon ruled the paint for the Horsemen.

“I don’t think we’re afraid of anything. I know that these guys aren’t fearful of anything. They’re looking forward to playing against a very good team in Plains,” says Laws.