Expect a fight every night in District 7B boys basketball.

Getting what they expected from visiting Mission at TFHS gym Thursday night, the Blue Hawks fought the league-leading Bulldogs tooth-and-nail until the end but lost 49-44 in 7B action.

Back on court in Arlee for a non-conference tussle with the 6B Warriors Saturday, the Hawks started out cold and ended up hot, but on the short end of a 59-42 score.

Now 1-4 in 7B play and 3-10 overall, the Hawks host Sanders County rival Plains in another 7B contest Thursday in their only scheduled action of the week.

“We started out cold in Arlee,” Hawk coach Jake Mickelson said. "They came at us with good on-ball pressure, we were expecting that but couldn’t hit a shot early, and they kind of overwhelmed us there for a while.

“We came back strong after that, kept grinding away,” he added. “I was impressed with the kids’ effort, they never gave up on the game.”

It was somewhat of a similar situation against Mission except for the fact that the Hawks never truly lost contact with the Bulldogs, in fact drawing to within four points at 46-42 with about three and a half minutes left on a 3-pointer by freshman Tristan Kelly before finally falling back.

“We were a little anemic offensively and Mission was able to take advantage,” Mickelson said. "But again, the kids never gave it up, played hard to the finish.”

Kellen LeCoure connected on four of eight 3-point shots and scored 16 points to lead the Hawks against Mission also grabbing 13 rebounds and two steals and passing out two assists, and Ethan Burgess added a triple double of 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals with two assists.

Alex Newman added four points and four rebounds, Landin Baird four points, four boards and four steals, Jacob Howell three points, three rebound and two steals, Kelly three points and two rebounds and Brylon VanElswyk two points and two boards.

Jason Leishman scored 14 points for Missio, Leelyn Shephard 12, Vinny Shephard 11 and Lex LaFromnbois eight as the Bulldogs improved to 4-0 in 7B play and 6-6 overall with the win.

Burgess bucketed 16 points to lead the Hawks at Arlee, LeCoure added 13, Kelly and Baird four each, Blake Shusterman three and Newman two.

Josh Horn led Arlee with 14 points and Dainian Marceau added 13 for the Warriors.