Breaking it off with the holiday break is never easy for high school sports teams.

Fresh off this season’s holidays, the Noxon Lady Red Devils hosted Sanders County rival Hot Springs Friday to open play for the 2026 calendar year, and lost 60-22 to the visiting Savage Heat.

“Coming off of a break is never easy,” coach Cory Brodmerkle said. “The girls played hard but you could tell they haven't played a game in a couple weeks. They did well with playing as a team and keeping each other in good spirits.”

Abigail Yoder led Noxon against Hot Springs with nine points and four steals, Sandy Bonney and Laynie Eichert scored four points apiece, Brielle MacArthur and Kaylie Mercer two each and Nevaeh Christensen one.

Christensen passed out five assists, Mercer grabbed four rebounds and Bonney and Georgia Rose three apiece.

See other story for Hot Springs scoring.

Brodmerkle and company return to action this week with a pair of District 14C conference road games, visiting Charlo Friday and Alberton Saturday. “This is a hard working team that’s improving day by day,” she said of her young squad. “We are looking forward to playing Charlo and Alberton this week.”