The Blue Hawks got down and dirty in the Snake Pit with the hometown Copperheads and live to tell about it.

Coach Jake Mickelson and his Thompson Falls boys traveled to Anaconda Saturday and lost their most recent tussle in the Snake Pit, the ‘Heads’ official unofficial name for their place of business, 76-59 to the hometown boys.

Mickelson thought the Hawks played well but that hot shooting by the Anaconda crew may have been the difference.

“It was a game of streaks – we started out down 10-0 but fought back to take the lead in the second quarter,” Mickelson said. “But they were hot from the outside all game long, especially late in the third quarter.”

That late third quarter barrage gave Anaconda a 59-45 lead going into the fourth and the Hawks were unable to recover.

Sidney Akinde and Justin Morgan scored 13 points apiece to lead the Hawks in Anaconda, Nathan Schraeder added 11, Cody Burk seven, Ryan Schraeder six, Trey Fisher five and Jack Green four.

Burk pulled down seven rebounds, and Akinde, Nathan Schraeder and Fisher six each, Ethan Brown passed out five assists and Green three.

Ryan Schraeder pilfered five steals, Akinde four and Nathan Schraeder three.

Michael Galle led a balanced Anaconda scoring attack with 23 points, Braedon Sawyer added 19, Eli Slatenberger 12, Kylar Gochanour 11 and Leroy Wilson 10.

In other action last week, the Hawks blasted Troy 56-31 in Troy Jan. 29.

Burk put down 19 points to lead the Hawks in that game, Nathan Schraeder added 10, Brown and Akinde six apiece, Ryan Schraeder, Morgan and Fisher four each, and Green three.

Up this week for the Hawks is a non-conference home game with Loyola Thursday, and a District 7B game with Eureka in Thompson Falls Saturday.

“We are confident in ourselves and getting better every time out,” Mickelson said. “We are really looking forward to playing Loyola and Eureka this week, it should be fun.”