Mila Hawk, a Polson graduate, is kicking off another basketball season with the University of Montana Western, and this time she’s part of the starting lineup. 

Hawk is a red-shirt junior at UM Western and explained that from the moment she started playing college basketball, she’s been aiming to join a varsity program. Now, as a point guard, she’s earning valuable minutes on the court as her team opens the season with a 3–2 record.

“It’s really fun and really cool to see all the work I put in pay off,” Hawk said. “I’m still battling to keep it; the job's not over, but it’s nice to be given an opportunity to play every game.” 

She began her college career at Carroll College on the junior varsity squad before former UM Western Coach Britt Cooper recruited her. After sitting out the following year due to transfer rules, Hawk started her sophomore year under new Head Coach Ryan Sullivan. 

Hawk explained that she was a backup point guard that year and got some good minutes. But that didn’t stop her from battling in every practice to prove she deserved her spot on the court. 

“I just kept working with my coach and just putting in the work myself,” she said. “I just stayed patient and was doing what I can, controlling what I can.” 

As a UM Western Bulldog, Hawk practices with the team every day at 5:30 a.m. and lifts weights three days a week during the season. During the preseason, the team is even busier, practicing twice a day, training in small groups and lifting. 

Hawk began her basketball career on the Charlo Vikings' court before transferring to Polson after her junior season. She finished her senior year with the Lady Pirates under Coach Brandie Buckless. 

Buckless, who started coaching at Polson during the Hawks’ senior year, said Hawk brought a lot of experience and a winning culture to the team, which is what she hoped to instill at Polson. She added that Hawk helped her do that, and the team was successful and nearly made it to state that year. 

“She was an incredible leader for our team that year,” Buckless said. “She's a great player, but she's an even better person.” 

Buckless added that Hawk led the team in nearly every stat that year and still holds some program records. 

When asked whether there are any skills Buckless taught her that she sees Hawk displaying now, Buckless explained that high school and college basketball differ significantly. When she started coaching at Polson, she aimed to bring her college experience from Montana State University to the Pirate court. 

She explained that high school teams tend to run a pretty structured program with set plays, but Buckless was focused on helping the girls become good basketball players, both by learning to play with less structure and by learning to play more freely. 

She said this included teaching them how to run an emotion offense by making good reads, which she remembers as a new concept for Hawk but an important skill that would help these players move to the next level. Buckless added that she would hope Hawk’s defense got a little better playing for her as well. 

She said they harped on playing good defense and on the fundamentals of good touch nose defense, and she’s sure that skill has come in handy during Hawk’s college career. Now, Buckless is a proud coach, recently watching a special moment unfold as the Bulldogs faced the University of Montana Lady Grizzlies in an early-season exhibition matchup. 

Hawk took the court against Division I competition on Tuesday, Nov. 3. She said the team kept the score close until halftime, when the Griz started rolling and beat them 91-45. 

Buckless said it was a “big proud moment” for her to watch Hawk play. She recalls taking the Lady Pirates to a Lady Griz game during Hawk’s senior year and said it was a full-circle moment to watch her play on the same court where they once watched together. 

When she’s not playing on the college court, Buckless said Hawk has returned every year since she graduated to help with basketball camp, and for the last two years Buckless has let her run the camp. 

“She does a great job, and she loves kids,” Buckless said. “She loves giving back.” 

This past summer, Hawk returned to Polson to teach a basketball camp for third through sixth grades, focusing on the fundamentals of offense, dribbling, shooting and defense. Hawk was joined by the Lady Pirate team, who helped her teach the camp. 

Hawk said it means a lot to her that Buckless lets her teach the camp, and she not only loves working with the kids but also enjoys giving back to the community. Hawk’s current plan is to coach college basketball one day, and Buckless added that leading camp helps Hawk build her leadership and coaching skills. 

Buckless said her leading camp tremendously helps future Lady Pirates. She added that Hawk is a great role model and that being there allows other athletes to follow her lead. 

“The little girls just love it,” Buckless said. “Knowing that she was a Lady Pirate and now she’s a college basketball player and she’s spending time with them, trying to teach them how to play. Not a lot of college kids want to do that, especially on their own time.” 

She often uses Hawk as an example with the Lady Pirates as well, because many students remember playing with her and look up to her. 

Hawk said she is excited about the rest of the college basketball season and believes they have a good team this year. 

“Our energy just feels different,” she said. “We’re capable of doing really good things. We’re all super excited.” 

    An archive photo shows Mila Hawk playing her senior year with Polson at the Frenchtown Tip-Off Tournament. (Jeremy Weber/Bigfork Eagle)