Fresh off a confidence-building loss, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk boys will open the Western B divisional tournament against Deer Lodge at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Ronan Event Center.

Coach Jake Mickelson and his Hawks will be hoping to use Saturday’s final home game with Bigfork, a game the Hawks were not truly out of until the Vikings went on a 23-11 run in the fourth quarter to end a 60-38 victory, as impetus for this week’s Western B.

“We gained some confidence against Bigfork,” Mickelson said. “We will still have to scratch and claw for everything we get, but the way we played in that game last week is encouraging. Hopefully we can keep it up with that kind of effort.”

Another factor perhaps helping the Hawks is the fact that Thompson Falls also played the then-No. 4 rated in the state Wardens in Thompson Falls earlier in the season. The fact that Deer Lodge lost its last two regular season games – to Mission in Mission and to Florence in Deer Lodge on senior night in Deer Lodge Saturday – also could portend good things for the Hawks.

“We can do nothing but go out and play hard and see what that gets us,” Mickelson said. “Deer Lodge seems to be struggling lately so maybe we can take advantage of that.”

The top two teams from the Western B advance on to the State B tourney in Billings March 7-9.

Ryan Schraeder scored 10 points to lead the Hawks against Bigfork, Grant Lundberg and Riley Riffle added nine each, Brian Henry six and Nathan Schraeder and Ben Beauchman two apiece. Lundberg added 11 rebounds and five assists and Nathan Schraeder, Ryan Schraeder and Henry grabbed two steals each.

Clayton Reichenbach scored 19 points and Logan Gilliard and Colton Reichenbach 12 apiece for Bigfork.