Bluehawks soar over Horsemen for victory

THOMPSON FALLS – The Bluehawks and the Horsemen clashed during the weekend in a close game. Both teams were eager to take a victory away from one of their rivals and although both teams fought hard, the Bluehawks came out with the victory.

The final score of the game was 60 to 51.

The game started off in favor of the Horsemen as Kyle Revier put the first points on the board. Bluehawk Dylan Vaught came back to tie the score and Tanner Laws put in three points to start their lead on the game.

The Bluehawks would keep this lead till the end of the game, taking the victory.

At the end of the first quarter, the crowd was on fire. There was a lot of commotion and the boys fed off the high energy. The score sat at 15 to 10 with Thompson Falls leading.

As the second quarter kicked off, Horseman Wyatt Winebrenner put the first points on the board. In a slow start to the quarter, more points weren’t put up for several minutes until Revier once again scored some points for Plains.

Trais Hoisington fired back to the round of Horsemen points, sinking in a three point shot. As the game continued, Plains worked to keep the gap in points as small as possible. After a series of free throws from both sides, the score was 28 to 22, entering the third quarter with Thompson Falls still in the lead.

Keeping with tradition, Plains was the first to put points up in the quarter. James Rulison lit up the court and scored two points. As both teams continued to bring in points, Bluehawk Dylan Vaught lit up the board, putting up two baskets back to back.

His spree ended when he missed a free throw shot but that did not hinder the team. While the boys continued shooting, Tyler Riffle went up for some points but Horseman Ryan Ovitt slapped the ball out of the air just in time.

This is when the rivalry boiled over into a serious competition.

Laws fired up and put more points towards their lead, which were almost immediately followed by two points from Horseman Aaron Baker.

Bluehawk Riffle helped stretch Thompson Falls’ lead to 43 to 30. However, wanting to keep an even playing field, the Horsemen evened the score out some to 35-43.

The fourth quarter saw a slow start. A few minutes into the game and no points had been made but Horseman Alec Cole decided to change that. He made a three-pointer but Bluehawk Hoisington shot right back with two.

With six minutes left in the game, Plains was trailing behind by only seven points. It could still be anyone’s game.

The crowd was intense and showed off their spirit, giving the boys something to feed off.

After a series of shots from the Bluehawks, the game went to Thompson Falls with a final score of 60-51.

Horseman Revier put in one last three pointer before two freethrows from the Bluehawks sealed their victory.

Bluehawks Head Coach Chadd Laws said his team was always on the attack.

“We never felt like we completely put them away at any point in the game but at the same token. I never felt like we were not in control of the game,” Coach Laws said.

The team outrebounded Plains 14 to 7 offensively, however, Coach Laws said the team could improve defensively.

He credited Laws, Riffle, McKenzie Holt and Hoisington for their hard work and consistency throughout the game.

Plains Head Coach Russ Baker was happy with how his boys performed.

“I am pleased with how the boys played overall,” he said. “It was a fairly close game throughout and both teams battled hard.”

Baker credited freshman Ovitt for his best game yet and said Rulison stayed consistent, putting up 10 points.

The Horsemen have grown over the season, something that is evident when comparing their first game against Thompson Falls in the Sanders County Tip-Off.

“This was the first conference game played against Thompson Falls,” Coach Baker said. “They beat us worse then. We played much better this time around and the boys are showing signs of improvement.”

The Horsemen also played against Hot Springs on Saturday with a final score of 53 to 73.

Plains struggled to keep up despite their strong efforts and Coach Baker had nothing but praise for the Savage Heat boys.

The team will go on to play Ronan on Thursday and Whitefish on Saturday.

As for the Bluehawks, the team went on to compete against Eureka, a game they lost 62 to 71.

After a slow third quarter, the boys were unable to make up the difference they lost.

Thompson Falls will compete in two more tough games against both Bigfork and Libby.

“You don’t get better by running away from competition,” Coach Laws said. “We’re game to it, we’re up for it.”