Bulldogs just miss trip to state

Following a 48-37 loss to Deer Lodge in their opener Thursday at the Western B divisional tournament in Eureka, the Mission Bulldogs turned things around with two more wins before coming up just short against Thompson Falls in the consolation game Saturday.

Mission had played Thompson Falls twice during the regular season, losing in overtime at home and winning the rematch on the road. Against the Bluehawks on Saturday, though, they couldn’t find their shooting touch and trailed 27-16 at the half.

Thompson Falls increased their lead by 10 more in the third and coasted to a third-place finish and a spot in the state tournament.

Zoran LaFrombois led Mission with 13 points, and Kellen McClure scored 11. The Bulldogs also got six points each from Layne Spidel and Justin Brown.

Mission went 2-2 at the tournament and finished with a 12-8 record.

Earlier Saturday, LaFrombois scored 24 points and Ross McPherson added 12 in a 55-36 win over Missoula Loyola.

The Bulldogs held the Rams to just 10 points in the first half.

LaFrombois scored a game-high 21 points during a resounding 71-47 win over Anaconda in a loser-out game Friday.

Mission led by six at the half, then pulled away with a 22-10 run in the third period.

Ross McPherson scored 16 in the win. Isaiah Nasewtewa scored nine points.