To be the best, it has often been said, you have to beat the best.

Noxon is on its way, but as one TV sports prognosticator says...”not so fast”.

One week ago, the Red Devils boys were coming off big Western 14C wins over Hot Springs and Charlo, and a win over a game and improving Alberton boys team.

But Friday and Saturday the young Red Devils ran into the buzzsaw that is the top tier of the conference and were beaten 66-32 in a Saturday night rematch with Charlo on the heels of a 62-49 loss Friday night at home against Two Eagle River (TER).

With one week to go before District play begins in Polson, the losses dropped Noxon to 4-5 in 14C games, but they remained ensconced in fourth place.

And they remain, as one conference coach said, “a tough first round opponent for anyone”.

The Noxon girls, meanwhile, lost both of their encounters to the same two teams, falling 60-17 to conference leader Charlo Saturday, after losing to Two Eagle River’s girls 50-41 in Noxon the night before.

The Red Devils boys got their week off to a rocky start in Noxon Friday when they took on the TER Eagles, who sit one game off the conference lead held by St. Regis.

The visiting Eagles jumped out to a 15-10 first quarter lead, then soared above the home team in the second quarter, outscoring them 19-2 to grab a 34-12 lead at the half.

Two Eagle added five points to their lead in the third quarter and were up by 27 with one quarter remaining.

Noxon caught fire in the fourth quarter amid a frantic rally during which they outscored TER 27-13. But the large early deficit was too much for the Red Devils to overcome as TER held on for the win.

Talon Addison paced the Eagles with a game-best 18 points. TER improved to 11-4 overall this season, and bumped their 14C mark to 5-2 as they await a home game showdown this weekend with St. Regis for the regular season conference title.

Saturday, Noxon ran into a Charlo team out to avenge a 61-55 loss to the Devils two weeks ago in Noxon.

The Vikings came on strong from the opening tip-off, running their way to a 17-6 first quarter lead. Charlo, which lost to conference leader St. Regis the night before in St. Regis was, looking to remain in the hunt for the conference crown.

The second quarter was a low-scoring affair, with Charlo adding three points to its first quarter lead by outscoring Noxon 8-5 en route to a 25-11 halftime lead.

The rest of the game was pretty much all Charlo as the tall, athletic Vikings outscored Noxon 41-21 over the final two quarters of play en route to the convincing conference win.

Charlo senior Hayden Hollow had a game best 18 points to lead a quartet of Vikings who scored in double digits for the game. Jacob Tomlin had 14 for the Vikings, who also got 12 points apiece from Wesley Anderson and Karson Cox.

Justice Kayser had 12 points to lead the Red Devils.

The Noxon Lady Devils pretty much followed the script set by the boys, losing their game Friday night versus TER’s Lady Eagles by a 50-41 count. They then hosted Charlo’s girls and were overrun by the conference leaders 60-17.

The Lady Eagles, who like Noxon were looking for their first conference win of the season, came to town and promptly took a 13-3 first quarter lead over the host Lady Devils. The Noxon girls fought back in the second quarter, outscoring the visitors 16-11 to make it 24-19 in favor of TER at the half.

The rest of the game was a back and forth battle as the young Noxon squad tried to stay with the Lady Eagles. In the end, TER outscored Noxon 26-22 over the second half to secure their first 14C win of the season.

Dayari Piapot led all scorers with 21 points for the Lady Eagles, who also got 17 points from Keke Tenas.

The Lady Devils hit the road Saturday and traveled to Charlo where the 11-4 Lady Vikings (7-0 in league play) lay in wait.

The home team swarmed all over the Lady Devils en route to a 16-5 first quarter lead. They then put the game out of reach when they outscored Noxon 21-1 in the second quarter, creating a 37-6 lead at the half.

Charlo continued to build on its lead in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring Noxon 23-11 in the second half.

Noxon freshman Abby Yoder had another solid game for the Lady Devils, scoring a team high 12 points, while Seeley McDonald led Charlo, also with 12 points.

Noxon’s boys and girls conclude the regular season with a pair of games this weekend, beginning with home contests versus Hot Springs. They wrap up their regular season with a trip to St. Regis Saturday night.