CFHS boys split with Chiefs, Bulldogs

Columbia Falls’ offensive production went from a flame to a flicker in Saturday’s night’s boys basketball game against rival Whitefish.

The Wildcats were dominant while mounting a 17-4 lead in the final minute of the opening quarter, but the Bulldogs clawed back and posted a 52-47 Northwestern A Conference victory.

Combined with Friday’s 65-42 win at Ronan, the Cats are 2-2 in the league — the same as Whitefish — and 5-4 overall.

CFHS has two non-conference games this week. The Cats, with six of their next nine games at home, host Class A Eureka today (Thursday) and Class AA Glacier on Friday.

The Cats started strong against Ronan, building a 21-12 first-quarter lead and taking a 36-17 advantage into halftime.

“We played very well,” CFHS head coach Cary Finberg said. “The kids came out aggressive. They were able to sustain it for four quarters. We were kind of in the attack mode in that game.

“Ronan hit some shots on us in the third (period) and our kids didn’t panic,” the coach added.

It was the first game this season in which the Cats shot more free throws than their opponent.

The Cats were 13-for-17 from the foul line, and the Chiefs were just 4-for-7.

CFHS dominated the boards, outrebounding Ronan, 31-18. Mackey Nolan had seven rebounds, Mitchell Wassam added six, and Kaleb Johnson and Grant Getts had five each.

In the turnover department, Ronan had 21 and CFHS finished with 17.

Wassam had his best offensive game, leading with 14 points. Austin Robbins added 12, and Getts had 10. Nolan had five assists and three steals.

Nolan Harris paced Ronan with 13 points, and Mike Fisher had 10.

GETTS SANK a free throw to cap an 11-0 run and give the Cats the 17-4 lead over Whitefish, but the Bulldogs responded by outhustling the Cats on the boards in the last three periods.

An Aaron Tkaychk 3-pointer tied the game at 22-22 to cap an 18-5 ‘Dogs run. The game was knotted 24-24 at halftime, but it was clear that Whitefish had the momentum.

CFHS scored only seven points in the second period and six in the third, and Whitefish took a 33-30 lead into the final period.

Free throws told the story in the final quarter. The ‘Dogs went to the stripe for 24 free throws in the final 3:40 of the contest. They missed 11 of those charities, but the Cats were unable to take advantage of the opportunity.

With the Cats within seven at 45-38, a technical foul on Tanner Barth after he was whistled for a personal led to a free throw by Tkaychk and two more by Matt Whitehead for a 10-point Whitefish lead with 1:50 remaining.

The ‘Dogs sank four more free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

“You always want to come out and play well and establish a good start,” Finberg said.

“Sometimes big leads like that can be dangerous. You relax a little bit. We started to play not to lose the game rather than to play to win. We quit doing what got us the lead.

“Whitefish started pounding the boards and it cost us. They totally manhandled us the last three quarters,” the coach added.

The ‘Dogs had no offensive rebounds in the first period, but 13 over the last three. Of the last 20 shots that Whitefish missed, the ‘Dogs had 13 offensive rebounds. Finberg said Whitefish converted those rebounds to 25 points.

While Whitefish was 23-for-42 from the foul line, the Cats converted 9 of 17 free throws.

Turnovers were nearly even; the Cats had 18 and Whitefish 17.

Nolan paced the Cats with 16 points and five assists.

Tkaychk led the ‘Dogs with 13 points, and Colt Idol added 12 and David FauntLeRoy 10.

COLUMBIA FALLS (65)

Mackey Nolan 2 2-3 6, Michael Williams 2 0-0 4, Kyle Howell 3 0-0 8, Mitchell Wassam 5 4-5 14, Grant Getts 4 2-2 10, Tanner Barth 1 4-4 6, Austin Robbins 6 0-0 12, Kaleb Johnson 2 1-3 5. Totals 25 13-17 65.

RONAN (42)

Mike Fisher 4 2-3 10, Dallas Cordier 1 1-2 3, Justin Dustybull 1 0-0 2, Ed Ness 2 1-2 5, Jay Sorrell 2 0-0 5, Nolan Harris 5 0-0 13, Kyle Hendrickx 2 0-0 4. Totals 17 4-7 42.

Columbia Falls    21    15    12    17 — 65

Ronan    12    5    17    8 — 42

3-point goals: Howell 2; Sorrell, Harris 3. Total fouls: Columbia Falls 10; Ronan 15. Fouled out: Cordier.

COLUMBIA FALLS (47)

Nolan 7 2-4 16, Williams 2 1-3 7, Howell 1 0-0 2, Wassam 1 3-4 5, Getts 3 3-4 9, Robbins 3 0-1 6, Josiah Begay 1 0-1 2. Totals 18 9-17 47.

WHITEFISH (52)

Matt Whitehead 0 2-5 2, Aaron Tkaychk 1 10-16 13, Willie Roche 0 2-4 2, Josh Backer 2 1-2 5, Marc Hotzfield 0 1-2 1, Connor Silliker 3 1-2 7, Colt Idol 3 6-9 12, David FauntLeRoy 5 0-2 10. Totals 14 23-42 52.

Columbia Falls    17    7    6    17 — 47

Whitefish    6    18    9    19 — 52

3-point goals: Williams 2; Tkaychk. Total fouls: Columbia Falls 33, Whitefish 18. Fouled out: Howell, Wassam, Getts.