Missed opportunities often lead to new possibilities.

The Plains Trotters had a golden opportunity to derail Sanders County rival Thompson Falls in Plains Thursday but the Lady Hawks managed to escape with 45-37 win.

In Seeley Lake Friday, the Trotters fell to the Seeley-Swan Blackhawks 48-34 in a non-conference game. Now 1-1 in District 7B play and 3-4 overall, coach Brooks Sanford and the Trotters face their biggest road test of the season with conference games at Mission Friday and at Eureka Saturday.

Sandford thought the Trotters had the formula to win against Thompson Falls Thursday. “Missed opportunities,” he said. "When Hadyn (Rice) and Ava (Lawyer) both record a double-double, we should win.”

To Sanford’s point, Rice scored 14 points against Thompson Falls and Lawyer 10, while both collected more than 10 rebounds, numbers that usually add up to a victory in games played by the Trotters this season.

A slow third quarter by the Trotters, where they were outscored 11-5 by the visitors, may have proved to be the ultimate difference.

Five other Trotters broke into the scoring column against Thompson Falls with Taryn Meredith scoring six points, Madi Pfister and Karissa French three apiece, and Katelyn Subatch and Jaycee Carr two each.

Please see other story for Thompson Falls scoring.

Against Seeley-Swan, Katelyn Subatch led Plains with 13 points, Lawyer scored 12, Carr three, and Meredith, Emma O’Keefe and Grace Subatch two each.

Scoring for Seeley-Swan was not available.

“Ava had another double double against Seeley,” Sanford said. “We just came out flat, fell behind and couldn’t catch up.”

Sanford looks forward to the rest of the season. “ We are getting more competitive and more confident,” he said, “so we are excited for the second half of the season.”