Flathead was never out of it the first two times the Bravettes tangled with Missoula Big Sky this season in girls basketball.

The Eagles won 52-38 in Missoula in January, then pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 53-45 win in Kalispell a month later.

The two teams will face off for a third time tonight at 6 in Missoula with the winner advancing to the state tournament in Butte March 10-12.

"I thought we competed well with them the last couple times we played them," Flathead coach Karly Tait said.

"At that time we weren't playing our best basketball. I think we are better now, but so are they."

Flathead enters this state play-in game as the sixth seed and holding a record of 8-11 overall.

Big Sky is the third seed and 11-9.

"I think if we play like we did against the Helena teams a couple weeks ago, we should be in pretty good shape," Tait said.

"What it comes down to is if we want the season to continue. We win, we go to state, that would be awesome. I like our chances, we just have to come out and play our game."

For Flathead to be successful, the Bravettes will have to try and contain Elle Tinkle. She scored nine and 17 points in the two previous meetings.

"We have to play better defense, we have to control Tinkle," Tait said.

"When we are in man, Tess (Brenneman) will be on her. We (also) have to stay out of foul trouble."

Brenneman had two solid outings offensively versus Big Sky, scoring nine and 12 points. She is averaging 10 points and five rebounds per game.

Sam Thompson had one of her better offensive games against Big Sky in the first meeting, scoring 12 points.

"Everybody will have to step it up a notch, it's playoff time," Tait said.

"The start is huge for us, and that's been kind of our downfall throughout the year. We get behind early, the next three quarters we play even with teams. If we can get off to a better start, not always playing catch-up ... ."

Taits says Flathead will have to play better against Big Sky's 1-3-1 zone, and not give up too many second chances defensively

"We're just excited to go play and see what we can do," she said.

"And hope we can get to state."