With losses to Thompson Falls and Mission, Troy's basketball season ends

The 2021-22 basketball season is over for the Troy Trojans.

Troy dropped consecutive games at the District 7B Conference Tournament held Feb. 17-19 in Bigfork. With the losses, the Trojans failed to advance to the Western B Divisional Tournament.

The Thompson Falls Blue Hawks upended the Trojans 64-24 in Troy’s first postseason game. Paxton Fisher led the Trojans with nine points. Michael Foote came away with seven points.

The following day, the Mission Bulldogs eliminated the Trojans. Final score: 87-42.

Foote led the Trojans with 17 points.

Young and inexperienced is not what you want to be in a district loaded with talent. All four 7B teams that advanced to divisionals won at least one game with Bigfork defeating Eureka in overtime for the championship.

Against Thompson Falls an all-too-familiar problem arose once again for the Trojans: lack of offensive firepower.

“I can count at least five layups that we missed,” said coach Justin Young.

He praised his team’s dogged efforts, though.

“The kids play hard, though,” he said. “Lack of depth hurts us. Most [members] of our supporting cast are freshmen.”

As for the loss to Mission, Young applauded his squad for playing loose while maintaining a competitive composure.

“We made their leading player work for his shots,” he said. “That’s what we wanted to do.”

He praised Foote, a senior, for his offensive performance during the loss.

“Aside from 17 points, he bombed in a couple of 30-footers,” Young said.

Despite a disappointing finish, Young called the season a success.

“We improved every day. We grew together as a team,” he said. “And we had fun.”

He gave a warm send off to Foote and fellow senior Tyler Munts for their effort throughout the campaign.

“Thanks to our two seniors for leaving the basketball program better than they found it,” Young said.