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When you are a young and inexperienced basketball team, there is only one way to become a mature and experienced team, and that is to play together. And the more the better.

Playing together through a challenging game at Class A Libby Friday, the Lady Hawks may have lost 40-27 but coach Doree Thilmony was impressed with how her charges never stopped battling.

“I am happy with how we played,” she said. “We had quite a few seniors we lost from last year’s team and we are kind of lacking in experience. And the only way you can get that experience is to go out and gain it yourself.

“I was impressed with how hungry and willing to work hard the girls played in Libby,” Thilmony added. “They played unafraid and will only get better if we keep this up.”

Freshman Megan Baxter led the Hawks in Libby with six points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals, fellow freshman Jody Detlaff added five points and three rebounds, sophomore Hope Slater five points and three assists, and senior Haley Morgan scored five points and cleared eight rebounds.

Sarah Detlaff and Maya Stiles added three points apiece, with Detlaff securing a team-high eight rebounds, while Stiles added two steals and two more rebounds.

Shannon Reny scored 13 points to lead Libby and Alli Collins chipped in with eight for the Lady Loggers.

The Lady Hawks will play two games in the Three Forks Tournament this week, taking on Three Forks at 4 p.m. Friday and Gardiner at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Thilmony says Three forks finished third in the State B tournament last winter and return virtually everyone from that team, but that she doesn’t know much about what Gardiner will bring to the floor.