Lady Hawks Bring Home Third-Place Hardware

Thompson Falls girls' basketball team finishes divisional tournament with overtime win over Mission

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:00am

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The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks basketball team finished third at the divisional tournament, beating Mission in overtime 47-44 in their final game of the season. The team had an impressive run, going 3-1 in the tournament, including a close loss to eventual champion Loyola and an overtime win over longtime rival Mission.

Why it matters

The Lady Hawks' third-place finish at divisional is a strong accomplishment, especially considering they were underdogs heading into the tournament. The team's grit and determination to battle back from a loss and claim third place shows the character of the players and the coaching staff.

The details

The Lady Hawks opened the tournament with a 55-33 win over Anaconda, led by 17 points from Addy Deal. They then faced Loyola in a loser-out game, putting up a strong fight before falling 61-34. In the third-place game, the Hawks beat Mission 47-44 in overtime, with Gabi Hannum hitting two clutch free throws to send the game to OT. In the extra period, the Hawks scored four unanswered points to claim third place.

  • The divisional tournament took place over three days, from Thursday, March 6 to Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • The Lady Hawks' win over Mission in the third-place game occurred on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Mike Tessier

The head coach of the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks, who is in his fourth year with the team after previously coaching for 12 years at Noxon High School.

Addy Deal

A key player for the Lady Hawks, scoring 17 points in the opening win over Anaconda.

Gabi Hannum

A senior leader for the Lady Hawks, who hit two clutch free throws to send the third-place game against Mission into overtime.

Spencer Laird

A standout player for Loyola who was held to a career-low 13 points in the semifinal game against Thompson Falls.

Aubrey Baxter

A Lady Hawks player who made a key defensive play in the final seconds of regulation against Mission to set up Hannum's game-tying free throws.

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What they’re saying

“This is the team I took the job for.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach (Sanders County Ledger)

“I was over the top happy and beyond proud of the girls for their efforts and their continued determination to bring home some hardware.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach (Sanders County Ledger)

“That first quarter against Loyola was impressive. Loyola didn't know what we were doing and they couldn't figure out what to do.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach (Sanders County Ledger)

“I have 100% confidence in Gabi's ability to do anything she wants on the floor. There's not a lot of kids who could have stepped up and made those free throws. I'm so proud of the way she handled that situation. I give her a lot of credit.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach (Sanders County Ledger)

“That finish we had is probably as close to a storybook ending as you can get.”

— Mike Tessier, Head Coach (Sanders County Ledger)

What’s next

The Lady Hawks' third-place finish at divisionals means they will not advance to the state tournament, as only the top two teams from the Western B division qualify. However, the team's strong performance and the praise from Coach Tessier suggest they will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

The takeaway

The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks' third-place finish at the divisional tournament, capped by an overtime win over longtime rival Mission, demonstrates the team's grit, determination, and coaching leadership. Despite falling short of a state tournament berth, the Lady Hawks' season was a success, and they have built a strong foundation for the future.