Troy had trouble making shots in Ralph Tate gymnasium Friday night, and the Lady Trojan basketball team gave up a bitter loss to the Libby Lady Loggers 29-18.

Long stretches of offensive drought for Troy and the hot hand of Libby’s sophomore guard Hannah England sunk the Lady Trojans.

England hit four treys and finished with a game-high 14 points as Libby cruised to its third win this season. Hailey Craig added nine for the Lady Loggers.

Jordan Williams, Breanna Opland and Alanah True-Silva scored four points each to lead Troy. 

“We did keep them on their toes, but we still made mistakes,” said Libby Head Coach Jim May. 

Stagnant offenses and stingy defense kept the game a low-scoring one.

Both teams hosted conference teams on Saturday.

Libby played one of its best games of the season, May said, falling just short of upsetting No. 3 Columbia Falls 52-48.

The Wildkats’ Haley Belgarde scored 18 in the close victory. Craig had 24 for Libby, with England adding 15 more for the Lady Loggers.

Columbia Falls is unbeaten in conference play and is 10-4 overall.

“We had rebounding breakdowns, defensive breakdowns or we could have had the game,” May said. “We need to continue to do better on offense. It’s not really a lot we need to do, just getting good shots.”

Troy faced off against the Lady Bluehawks of Thompson Falls and came up short in the 57-39 loss. 

Thompson Falls, at 9-5, is undefeated in conference and has handled Troy both times the two met. Jordan Williams and Caitlin Johnston had 11 points each.

Kelsey Fitchett scored 20 for T-Falls, 16 of which came in the second quarter. The Lady Trojans were outscored 27-12 in the second period after matching Thompson Falls’ six points in the first quarter. 

Important conference games are on the schedule for the local teams Friday, with Troy traveling to Bigfork. The Valkyries dispatched the Lady Trojans with ease the last time the teams met this season.

Now, heading to play in Bigfork’s noisy gym, Troy will have to calm its nerves and make the open shots to compete. Its nervousness has been a team weakness this season.

The Lady Loggers will head to Whitefish.

“They always play better in their own gym,” May said. 

Troy-    6    5   2   5   -   18

Libby-  9  10   4   6   -   29

Troy: Jordan Williams 4, Alanah True-Silva 4, Breanna Opland 4, Caitlin Johnston 3, Michaela Curry 2, Kelli Lundin 1.

Libby: Hannah England 14, Hailey Craig 9, Hailley Moe 3, Dayln Germany 2, Devon Gallagher 1.  

T-Falls-   6  27   9  15  -   57

Troy   -    6  12  14   7   -  39

T-Falls: Kelsey Fitchett 20, Allison Vaudt 17, Logan Beckman 10, Hope Reid 4, Schey Hannum 2, Makala Dalke 2, Vica 2.

Troy: Jordan Williams 11, Caitlin Johnston 11, Kelli Lundin 8, Alanah True-Silva 5, Breanna Opland 4.

C-Falls- 13  15  15  9   -   52

Libby  -  9  18   9  12   -   48

C-Falls: Haley Belgarde 18, Winter Kempainnen 15, Hope Burlage 8, Tori Price 5, Ciera Finberg 3, Shannon Hay 2, Ellie Johnson 1. 

Libby: Hailey Craig 24, Hannah England 15, Dayln Germany 3, Taryne Luscher 2, Hailley Moe 2, Kaitlyn Gilder 1, Gavy Oliver 1.