T-Falls boys get fourth seed in Divisionals
Thompson Falls guard Nathan Schraeder goes to the basket against Troy defenders Paxton Fisher (2) and Michael Foote (32) during action against Troy at the District 7B Tournament in Bigfork Thursday.
Things were looking good following the first day of the Western 7B District tournament for the Thompson Falls High boys basketball team.
They opened the tourney Thursday by thrashing Troy 64-24 to advance to a Friday semi-final match-up with Bigfork where they were sent to the consolation round by a 57-32 loss to the Vikings.
Saturday morning they took on Sanders County rival Plains for the third time and crushed the Horsemen 64-27, eliminating their rivals from the tournament and keeping their own hopes of gaining a consolation challenge alive.
Those dreams remained alive Saturday evening even after they were routed and dropped to a Divisional fourth seed by St. Ignatius.
The opening day of the tournament saw a familiar situation and outcome unfold for the Blue Hawks as they opened up a 16-3 first quarter lead against the hapless Trojans and were never threatened the rest of the way.
T-Falls led 33-7 at the half and had upped that lead to 48-19 with one quarter to play.
The win sent them to the semi-final match-up with host Bigfork and this time it was the Blue Hawks turn to fall behind early and big.
After the first quarter Thompson Falls trailed 18-9 and by halftime the Bigfork advantage had swelled to 29-13.
Three Vikings players scored in double figures and heading into the fourth quarter Bigfork held a 40-23. The hosts closed out the game by outscoring the Blue Hawks 17-9 in the final eight minutes of play.
Eli Thorness scored 13 points for Bigfork to earn game high scoring honors, while teammates Cole Knopik and Bryce Gillard added 12 each.
Senior guard Nathan Schraeder scored 10 points to pace T Falls.
The loss to Bigfork dropped the Blue Hawks into their Saturday morning match-up with Plains, and the 64-27 rout eliminated Plains from the tournament.
The Hawks, who beat the Horsemen for the third time this year, went up 17-7 after one quarter of play, then boosted that lead to 41-10 by halftime.
Schraeder again was the Hawks leading scoring with a game-high 18 points as T Falls coasted to the win and set up a consolation final meeting with St. Ignatius Saturday evening.
But the Bulldogs were in a foul mood after falling to Eureka to send them into the consolation round and took it out on the Blue Hawks, beginning by establishing a 23-11 first quarter lead.
By halftime the St. Ignatius boys were up 50-16 and the Blue Hawks were looking at a fourth place finish and elimination from the tournament.
Bulldog standout Zoran LaFrombois scored a game and tournament high 44 points to lead the St. Ignatius crew.
Schraeder scored 12 points to lead the Blue Hawks.
Both T-Falls and St. Ignatius move on to Ronan this weekend.