WEB EXTRA Mission boys weather tough week

The Mission boys basketball team dropped a pair of games last week.

Against Noxon last Thursday, the Bulldogs looks to win on the road, play man on defense, hold their opponent to 40 points or less and score at least 50 points.

“Zero goals were met,” head coach Lloyd Phillips said. “Noxon took the opening top out of our hand and had their way with us from there on.”

Mission gained some control when Phillips subbed in five players with three minutes left in the first half. Those players scored nine points for a six-point deficit at the half.

“I believe we could have won with them if they hadn't run out of time and quarter for the night,” Phillips said. Mission scored 14 points in the second half for a 47-35 loss.

The Bulldogs made two 3-point shots and committed 18 fouls. Senior Jake Durglo led with 12 points while senior Jorren Gies led with seven rebounds.

Junior Spencer Ahlborn had a break out night with eight points and four rebounds.

Phillips said Ahlborn, along with senior Lakota Matt, freshman Dylan Evans and sophomore Josh Durglo were the bright spots of the night.

Mission took the court the next night against Troy to try to get its first win at home but lost 37-25.

In the first quarter, Jake Durglo made his first three shots and missed his next two.

“He has some great looks,” Phillips said.

Troy started to play a tight 2-3 zone for the next three quarters.

After going 3-for-7 in the field in the first quarter, Mission made one of ten in the second. At halftime, the Bulldogs were down by seven points.

At halftime, Phillips said his team committed to full-court man defense for the rest of the game  and picked up the tempo.

In the third, the Bulldogs climbed back to a four-point deficit, making four shots from the field and hold Troy to six total points.

In the final eight minutes, Mission scored six points and closed in to a 28-26 score with 3:33 to go.

“Things were going our way,” Phillips said. “We had three chances to tie or take the lead. We had great looks but no buckets.”

Following the flurry, Mission went without a shot in its next three possessions. Troy's lead extended to six and the Bulldogs were forced to put them on the line.

“We played hard at both ends,” Phillips said. “Our defense was very good most of the time. We had numerous chances to go ahead but couldn't score the ball.”

Gies led with 16 points and seven rebounds. Josh Durglo had two rebounds and two assists.

“He is getting better every game,” Phillips said. “Jorren needs to shoot more and Jake needs more touches.”

Mission travels to Plains on Friday and hosts Thompson Falls on Saturday.

“The team must start putting the ball in the hoop,” Phillips said.