In win over Eagles, boys record now 6-0

The streak continues. The Columbia Falls boys basketball team is 6-0 after edging Big Sky last weekend in Missoula.

The boys had a nine-point lead against the winless AA Eagles to start the fourth quarter. But Big Sky rattled home 18 shots in the fourth. It took a final shot by senior Wildcat Mitchell Wassam to secure the win.

Coach Cary Finberg said he was happy with the win, but the Cats need to play better offense overall.

“We didn’t come out and play very good basketball,” he said. “There was a lack of consistency throughout the game on offense.”

Big Sky took 51 shots to the Cats 36. The boys also turned the ball over 18 times while the Eagles had just nine. Right now, it’s the Cats defense that is keeping them in games.

“Defensively we’re playing well,” Finberg said.

Player of the game was Kyle Howell who had four points, nine rebounds and just one turnover. The JV player of the game was Jake Calderwood, who had 17 points and 12 boards in a JV win. Frosh player was Michael Nicosia, who had six points in a loss to the Eagles.

The boys are on the road this week against Class B Eureka and Libby. The Libby gym is always a tough place to play, and Finberg said a win there would be a good way to start the conference schedule.

“We need to get off (our conference schedule) on a positive note,” he said.

C. Falls, 42, Big Sky 41

Col. Falls 17 7 8 10 - 42

Big Sky 9 9 5 18 - 41

COLUMBIA FALLS - Kyle Howell 2 0-1 4, Austin Barth 2 4-4 10, Mitchell Wassam 4 0-1 10, Kaleb Johnson 4 0-3 8, Michael Williams 3 2-2 8, Nick Emerson 0 2-2 2. Totals 15 8-13 42.

BIG SKY - Eric Deneault 2 0-0 6, Drew Owens 5 0-2 10, Ryan Devlin 3 1-4 7, Jordan Schafer 2 0-0 4, Mitch Colyer 1 0-0 2, Ed Apostol 2 2-2 6, Jason Neibergs 2 0-0 6. Totals 17 3-8 41.

3-point goals - Columbia Falls 2 (Wassam 2), Big Sky 4 (Deneault 2, Niebergs 2). Total fouls - Columbia Falls 12, Big Sky 17. Fouled out - none.