BIGFORK - The wins haven't quite been there to indicate the

improvement the Mission Bulldogs have made this season, but the way

they're playing, when the wins do come, they'll come in droves. The

Bulldogs dropped three games out of winter break last week, but two

of those were nailbiters, adding to the run of close games Mission

has been involved in this season.

BIGFORK - The wins haven't quite been there to indicate the improvement the Mission Bulldogs have made this season, but the way they're playing, when the wins do come, they'll come in droves. The Bulldogs dropped three games out of winter break last week, but two of those were nailbiters, adding to the run of close games Mission has been involved in this season.

On Tuesday, the Bulldogs rallied from 10 points down after the first quarter to get within five after the third period, but couldn't complete the rally, falling to Bigfork on the road 58-50.

Stuart Grant led the way with 12 points, while Dylan Evans added 11 in the defeat, which dropped the Bulldogs to 2-4 on the season.

"We are working hard and I don't think the time off hurt us too bad," Mission head coach Patrick Irvin said. "We have executed very well at times since the break but have just really struggled with our shooting. Teams are starting to pack it in and let us shoot from the outside. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to make them pay thus far."

Nikko Alexander and Austin Durglo each scored eight, while Jarred Smith-Brown added six and Will Powell five against Bigfork.

On Thursday, Jan. 5, the Bulldogs got 12 points from Durglo and 10 from Grant, but it was Lake County neighbor Arlee that left Mission with a 46-42 victory. The Bulldogs hung tough early, trailing just 19-17 at halftime, but the Warriors broke the game open in the third, outscoring Mission 16-5 en route to the win. Despite the loss, it was the fourth time through the first seven contests that the Bulldogs had held an opponent under 50 points, something Irvin has noticed about his club.

"We have played much better defense and rebounded better than we did early in the season," Irvin said. "Turnovers have hurt us as well, but that number is starting to go down and we are beginning to read defenses better, which is encouraging."

The Bulldogs got scoring contributions from Alexander (nine), Smith-Brown (seven) and Evans (four) as they fell to 2-5. To wrap up the week, Mission headed south to take on Loyola and despite a close first quarter, couldn't stay with Loyola in a 62-37 defeat.

After one, the Bulldogs had given Loyola all they could handle, trailing just 18-15. Loyola used an 18-6 edge in the second quarter, however, to build a formidable 36-21 lead before a strong defensive effort by Mission kept the margin at 15 after three periods, 42-27. Loyola would then seal the win by scoring 20 of the quarter's 30 points.

For the third time in the last four games, Grant led the Bulldogs, this time with nine points, while Smith-Brown added seven and Alexander and Powell six apiece. Evans and Durglo helped round out the scoring with five and four, respectively.

Mission will pull back on the throttle this week with just two games on the docket. Thursday, the Bulldogs will welcome Ronan to St. Ignatius. Then on Saturday, Mission will travel to Troy for a matchup with the Trojans.

MISSION @ LOYOLA

Mission - 15 - 6 - 6 - 10 - 37

Loyola - 18 - 18 - 6 - 20 - 62

Bulldogs scoring - Jarred Smith-Brown 7, Austin Durglo 4, Dylan Evans 5, Nikko Alexander 6, Will Powell 6, Stuart Grant 9

ARLEE @ MISSION

Arlee - 8 - 11 - 16 - 11 - 46

Mission - 8 - 9 - 5 - 20 - 42

Bulldogs scoring - Jarred Smith-Brown 7, Austin Durglo 12, Dylan Evans 4, Nikko Alexander 9, Stuart Grant 10

MISSION @ BIGFORK

Mission - 8 - 14 - 14 - 14 - 50

Bigfork - 18 - 15 - 8 - 17 - 58

Bulldogs scoring - Dylan Evans 11, Stuart Grant 12, Nikko Alexander 8, Austin Durglo 8, Jarred Smith-Brown 6, Will Powell 5