Blue Hawks rally to reach state tournament

They had to do it the hard way, but in the end the Thompson Falls boys basketball team earned a trip to the Montana High School Association Class B state tournament this week with a 60-46 win over the Mission Bulldogs last Saturday.

The win gave the Blue Hawks third place in the Class 7-B district tournament.

The Blue Hawks open state with a 11 a.m. game Wednesday against North champion Shelby at MetraPark First Interstate Bank Arena in Billings.

Here’s a look at how the Blue Hawks did last week in Eureka.

THURSDAY, March 4

Missoula Loyola 43, Thompson Falls 41

A Missoula Loyola rally in the second half ended Thompson Falls’ chances of winning the district.

Thompson Falls led by four at halftime after outscoring Loyola 20-10 in the second quarter.

But the Rams rallied in the third to tie the score at 32.

Cody Burk scored 15 points and Nathan Schraeder had eight for the Blue Hawks.

FRIDAY, March 5

Thompson Falls 71, Eureka 61

Burk had a huge game with 25 points and Ben Cooper poured in 20 as Thompson Falls dumped host Eureka in a loser-out game.

Dante Micheli added 14 for the Bluehawks.

Thompson Falls trailed by six at halftime but outscored the Lions 30-14.

SATURDAY, March 6

Thompson Falls 58, Bigfork 52

Nathan Schraeder scored 18 points and the Blue Hawks survived with a fourth-quarter rally.

Micheli scored 14 and Burk added 12 as the Blue Hawks outscored the Vikings 21-9 in the final eight minutes to overcome a six-point deficit.

Thompson Falls 60, Mission 46

Micheli and Burk each scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as Thompson Falls built a huge lead and held off a late rally by the Bulldogs for a 60-46 triumph in the consolation final.

Schraeder and Justin Morgan each had 11 points for the Blue Hawks.