Boys crush Frenchtown for first conference win

Cats have a tougher time against Flathead

The Columbia Falls basketball team had an up-and-down weekend. On Dec. 16, they lost to a physical Flathead Braves team, 63-55, but the next day they played better team basketball and blew out conference foe Frenchtown, 87-54.

The Cats committed 16 turnovers in the first half against the Braves and were down 27-23 at the break. Flathead held a 55-50 lead in the fourth quarter as the Cats looked like they might make a run, but both Anthony Correa and Austin Barth fouled out with less than three minutes to play.

"We tried to win the game individually as opposed to playing as a team," coach Cary Finberg said. "We needed to share the ball and trust our teammates better."

The next night, the Cats rose to the occasion and walloped Frenchtown, 87-54. Finberg said the boys played much better as a team.

Correa was the coach's player of the week, scoring 27 points and 10 rebounds. Luke Kazlauskas also had a solid weekend. He scored 11 against Flathead and eight points against Frenchtown.

The team traveled to Eureka on Tuesday night after presstime to face the Lions before they head into the Christmas break. Finberg said the team will practice over the break. They play Bigfork at home on Jan. 5.

Flathead 12 19 17 15 - 63

C. Falls 12 11 19 13 - 55

FLATHEAD - Chris Cronk 1 0-0 3, Matt Tokarz 1 3-4 5, Matt McLean 1 2-2 4, George Sherwood 7 2-6 18, Austin Jones 1 2-2 4, Al Michael Olszewski 0 2-3 2, Shea Schroeder 4 1-7 9, Nick James 4 2-8 10, Garth West 4 0-1 8. Totals 23 14-33 63.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 1 0-0 3, Ronnie Gallegos 1 2-4 4, Luke Kazlauskas 4 7-11, Anthony Correa 3 0-0 7, Parker Johnson 3 5-9 12, Austin Barth 5 3-6 14. Totals 17 17-30 55.

Frenchtown 6 12 14 22 - 54

Columbia Falls 21 19 26 21 - 87

FRENCHTOWN - John Chapman 2, Jackson Mahlum 11, Mark Lebsock 4, Ryan Anderson 2, Kyle Cyr 4, Matt Price 8, Giacomo Marangiu 2, Andrew Honken 6, Austin Blank 15.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 6, Ronny Gallegos 4, Ty Morgan 2, Colin King 5, Luke Kazlauskas 8, Anthony Correa 27, Parker Johnson 12, Brian Marcille 9, Austin Barth 6, Jared Trinastich 6, Austin Kimmet 2.