Slow second and third quarters haunted the Troy Trojans in their 54-37 loss to the Thompson Falls Bluehawks Saturday.

Trais Hoisington got the Bluehawks on the board first with a layup under the basket. But on the next possession Troy senior Craig Helmrick drained a three-pointer that gave the Trojans a 3-2 lead. Troy and Thompson Falls traded buckets and free throws, but no team was better than the other at the end of the first frame as the score was tied at 10 points apiece.

In the second quarter, Trojan senior Gage Tallmadge was fouled on a successful three-pointer and converted the free throw to tie the game at 14. But Thompson Falls was able to put their big guys to work as Hoisington dominated the Trojans underneath the basket. The Bluehawks outscored the Trojans 16-8 in the second to take a 26-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“We had a hard time with their athleticism. Defensively they shut down places that we needed to get the ball to in our offense,” Trojans head coach Jerry Mee said. “In the third quarter we kinda lost our poise and then the bottom really fell out.”  

The third quarter was totally dominated by the Bluehawks. They created several Troy turnovers that converted into points. A pair of Sean Opland free throws brought the Trojans within nine points with six minutes left to go in the third. But after that Thompson Falls ran away with the game. The Bluehawks dominated the Trojans in the third quarter outscoring them 22-6.

Troy started to get things going in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to catch up to Thompson Falls. Three of Troy’s starters had fouled out, which forced Troy to play some junior varsity players. The Trojans won the fourth quarter 13-6.

Thompson Falls’ Hoisington led all scorers with 17 points.

Kolton Winebark led the Trojans with 10 points.

Troy will face the Bigfork Vikings at home on Feb. 6.

T. Falls  10  16  22   6_54

Troy      10    8    6  13_37

Thompson Falls (54)

Mack Holt 2, Trais Hoisington 17, Tanner Laws 9, Corey Tessier 2, Dylan Vaught 12, Joe Lundberg 2, Greg Wadsworth 2, Dalton Hooten 4, Tyler Riffle 4.

Troy (37)

Craig Helmrick 3, Gage Tallmadge 8, Brennan Olds 5, Sean Opland 7, Mason Chapel 4, Kolton Winebark 10.