Hawk boys out, Horsemen in

District 7B tournament ends season for Thompson Falls boys, Plains and Eureka advance

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Thompson Falls boys' basketball team suffered a 31-52 loss to Eureka in their final regular season game, ending their season. Meanwhile, the Thompson Falls girls' team defeated Eureka 57-40, with Addy Deal scoring 24 points. The Blue Hawk girls will now advance to the divisional tournament, where they will face Anaconda. In other district action, the Plains Trotters will open the tournament against Florence, while the Eureka Horsemen will take on Anaconda.

Why it matters

The end of the regular season marks the start of the postseason for District 7B basketball. The Thompson Falls boys' team fell short of advancing to the divisional tournament, while the girls' team secured a spot. This sets up an exciting tournament run for the Lady Hawks, who will look to make a deep playoff push.

The details

The Thompson Falls boys' team struggled early against Eureka, falling behind 15-5 by the end of the first quarter. They were unable to mount a comeback, despite a stronger second-half effort. Coach Jake Mickelson said the team's goal was to get within 10 points by the fourth quarter, but they ultimately fell short. On the girls' side, the Lady Hawks had a slow start but found their rhythm, led by a 24-point performance from Addy Deal. They held a comfortable lead throughout the game, defeating Eureka 57-40.

  • The Thompson Falls boys' season ended on Saturday, March 5, 2026.
  • The Thompson Falls girls' team will open the divisional tournament on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Addy Deal

A standout player for the Thompson Falls girls' basketball team, scoring 24 points in the team's 57-40 win over Eureka.

Mike Tessier

The head coach of the Thompson Falls girls' basketball team, who has not lost to Eureka in his four years as head coach.

Jake Mickelson

The head coach of the Thompson Falls boys' basketball team, whose team fell short of advancing to the divisional tournament.

Brylon Van Elswyk

A player for the Thompson Falls boys' basketball team, who scored 7 points in their 31-52 loss to Eureka.

Ethan Burgess

The leading scorer for the Thompson Falls boys' basketball team, with 15 points in their season-ending loss.

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What they’re saying

“They got settled in and picked it up and played our brand of basketball.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach, Thompson Falls Girls Basketball (Sanders County Ledger)

“Eureka is always prepared for us, I give them a lot of credit. But we just have a little too much firepower for them and I think we showed it.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach, Thompson Falls Girls Basketball (Sanders County Ledger)

“We didn't get a lot of shots in the first half.”

— Jake Mickelson, Head Coach, Thompson Falls Boys Basketball (Sanders County Ledger)

“Our goal was to come back in the second half and get within 10 points of Eureka by the fourth quarter. Our shots started to fall and they knew the season was on the line.”

— Jake Mickelson, Head Coach, Thompson Falls Boys Basketball (Sanders County Ledger)

“I've never ended a season like that in the regular season. I hope the District tournament will be back for 7B in 2027.”

— Jake Mickelson, Head Coach, Thompson Falls Boys Basketball (Sanders County Ledger)

What’s next

The Thompson Falls girls' basketball team will open the divisional tournament on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. against Anaconda. If they win, they will then face Loyola in the next round.

The takeaway

The end of the regular season marks a bittersweet moment for the Thompson Falls basketball programs. While the girls' team secured a spot in the divisional tournament, the boys' team fell short of advancing. However, this sets up an exciting postseason run for the Lady Hawks, who will look to make a deep playoff push and potentially earn a spot at the state tournament.