Boys take bronze at state

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team won three games in a row at the state tournament last week in Butte. But the one loss in the opener meant they were playing for the bronze.

The Cats lost to eventual champion Laurel in double overtime, 47-43. The game was marred with errors and a defensive struggle on both ends. The Cats, who had made a habit of coming out strong in the first quarter of previous games, had just two points in the first stanza against the Locomotives.

"We ran into a Laurel team that played very good defense," coach Cary Finberg said.

After the Laurel loss, they got back on track. In the consolation bracket they downed Dillon 53-43 Friday and then beat Butte Central Saturday morning 54-31.

That set up a third place showdown with Billings Central and the Cats handled the Rams in convincing fashion, 51-30. Billings was coming off a double overtime 71-65 victory over Browning just a few hours earlier to make it to the consolation final.

Junior Nick Emerson and Austin Barth led the Cats with 10 points apiece. The Cats ended their season at 21-3 overall.

"We played great defense throughout the tourney," Finberg said, adding that he was "proud of the kids for battling back and getting the third place trophy."

Finberg credited seniors Mitchell Wassam, Kyle Howell and Tim Spencer.

"They were great leaders and a huge reason why we were successful this year," he said.

The Cats will return a strong core of players next year, with starters Barth, Emerson and Kaleb Johnson returning to the lineup.

The future looks bright, Finberg noted.

"Hopefully we can build on this."

Polson, the dark horse of the tourney, surprised everyone and made it to the final against Laurel, but the Pirates fell short in the title game, 60-48 as Laurel pulled away in the fourth quarter.