Cats nip Wolves with just seconds left
If Saturday's game against Cut Bank is any indication of how the boys basketball season will go, you won't want to leave until the final buzzer has sounded.
The Cats edged Cut Bank 62-60, with a last second shot by Anthony Minson to get the win.
Cut Bank may be a class B school, but they were physically bigger than many of the Cat players. Last year, the Wolves were ranked No. 1, and they won the class B state championship a couple of years ago. According to Cats coach Cary Finberg, the Wolves are 49-2 in their last two seasons.
In other words, they weren't pushovers.
"I knew they were going to be a good team," Finberg said. "It was a good win for us."
The Wolves came out and took an early lead, utilizing a full court press. The Cats shook it off and the two were tied in the first quarter, 15-15.
The Cats then went on a run, scoring 19 in the second stanza to the Wolves' 9 for a 34-24 halftime lead.
The Cats extended that lead early in the third, and the game had all the makings of a blowout when the Cats took a 44-29 lead.
But Cut Bank surged later in the third, scoring 19 and tying it in the fourth with about 4:30 to play.
The Cats took the lead on a layup by J.D. Fields, and then Guy Smith got fouled under the hoop and drained a free throw to put the Cats up by three with about 90 seconds left.
The Wolves' Craig Smith nailed a trey with 20 seconds left, and the Cats got the ball downcourt. Fields drove the lane, dished it to Anthony Minson with about three seconds remaining, and Minson dumped it in to put the Cats up by two.
The Wolves had a desperation shot with about 2 seconds left, but it didn't go.
Minson lead the Cats in scoring with 19 points and 12 boards. Fields had 16, Drew Perry had 9 with five boards and seven assists, Kevin Boyer had 8 points and four steals, Justin Heinrichs had 6 and four assists with no turnovers, Guy Smith had one, Jace Ladenburg had two, and Greg Macijunas had one.
Cut Bank was lead by Brian McDivitt, who had 27.
Finberg said Fields did a good job of settling the team when the Wolves made their run, and he also credited Perry for contributing in other ways, even though his shots weren't dropping.
Finberg was also pleased with Minson, who looks to play a big role in the Cats' season this year.
"He played very well," Finberg said of Minson. "That was his best game of his varsity career."
If Minson can give the Cats consistent play through the season, they should do well. He's coming into his own and is much stronger physically than last year.
"Our offensive skills are good enough to where we can't panic" if a lead begins to slip, Finberg said.
The Cats now face Stevensville Friday and Frenchtown Saturday in the annual Western A tourney to start off play against A schools.
Both teams are tough, with a host of returning players. Stevi is a big team and includes Travis Browne, who was an outstanding running back for their football team. Frenchtown is also a solid team. The Cats beat them on a last-second shot by Perry last year at home.
"It will be two good tests for us," Finberg said. "We can't have any let ups."
The next home game is against Flathead Dec. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m.
The JV team lost to Cut Bank, 58-43 and the frosh lost 57-43.
Wildcats 62, Wolves 60
Wildcats 15 19 17 11 62
Wolves 15 9 19 17 60