It’s only one game but it’s potentially for District 7B conference’s heavyweight world championship – and the Lady Hawks want to be the ones leaving the Thompson Falls gym with the championship belt around their waists.

For the time being at least, there are after all, other conference games and the tournaments yet to be played.

The powerful Mission Lady Bulldogs, 3-0 in 7B action and 10-1 overall, visit the Lady Hawks, 4-1 in 7B and 6-5 overall, in Thompson Falls Thursday in another key conference game between these two schools.

Thompson Falls and Mission have a history of storied battles with each other over the past several years in particular. Last year, with largely the same cast of characters, these two teams split regular season games with each other, with each winning on the other’s court. At the District 7B tournament (in Mission by the way) last winter, the Bulldogs won in overtime in one of the best games in recent 7B history, a game coach Mike Tessier and his Lady Hawks have every right to believe they think they could have, should have won.

“It has developed into quite the rivalry over the four years I have been coaching here in Thompson Falls,” Tessier offered. “We have had some dandy games with Mission in the past and expect another one Thursday.

“And we’re hoping for a full house in Thompson Falls Thursday,” he added. “We would like all the fan support we can get for this game.”

The Lady Hawk-Bulldog meeting takes on added meaning this season as there will be no 7B conference tournament and seeding into the Western B divisional tourney will be determined by final league standings.

“In the past, with the tournament, you always figured you have another chance at a team in the end,” Tessier said, “but we don’t have that luxury this season. And it adds to the importance of Thursday’s game.”

The Hawks warmed up for their latest Bulldog fight with a pair of convincing wins last week, shutting down Noxon 66-11 in Thompson Falls Tuesday and shooting down Troy 71-39 in Troy Thursday.

Against Noxon, Gabi Hannum and Addy Deal paced the Hawks with double doubles. Hannum scored 10 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three assists and Deal recorded a game-high 23 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and seven assists.

Annalise Fairbank was good for 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, Aubrey Baxter six points, two rebounds, three steals and three assists and Emma Claridge four points, two rebounds, three steals and two assists.

At Troy, Hannum and Deal again recorded double doubles, with Hannum putting in 28 points, pulling down 10 rebounds and adding four steals while Deal scored 19 points, speared 13 rebounds, grabbed eight steals and passed out six assists.

Returning to action after missing the Noxon game due to illness, Solveig Nygaard scored 12 points, secured five rebounds and six steals and passed out three assists, Fairbank recorded five points, six boards, four steals and five assists, Baxter four points, four rebounds and three assists, and Claridge two points, a steal, two steals and three assists.

Aspen Orr scored nine points to lead Troy, Hailey Dungan added eight and Kristi Jellesed six.

    THOMPSON FALLS SENIOR Gabi Hannum shoots over the defense of Brielle MacArthur and Abigail Yoder of Noxon in Thompson Falls Jan. 20 (John Hamilton/vp-mi)