Cats extend winning streak to 6-0

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team kept its unbeaten streak intact. The Wildcats are now 6-0 after wins over Eureka and Libby last week.

On Friday, the Cats dropped the Loggers for their first conference victory as Kaleb Johnson racked up 15 points in the first quarter alone. Johnson led the team with 19 points and the Cats cruised over Libby, 50-33.

On Thursday Nick Emerson started the game with a dunk and the boys built a 13-0 lead in the first stanza at home to roll over Class B Eureka, 77-27.

Emerson led all scorers with 24 and had four assists and no turnovers. Coach Cary Finberg was pleased with the way the team shared the ball, noting four players had four or more assists.

Parker Johnson also had a good night, with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists. He was also three-for-five on three-point shots. Austin Barth has 10 points and three blocks, Kaleb Johnson, Devyn Rocker and freshman Alex Presnell also had good performances.

“I thought for as long a break as we had, the kids played pretty good basketball,” Finberg said.

While the Cats started out strong against Libby, they slowed a bit offensively the rest of the game.

Finberg said he’s pleased with the team’s defensive play, but offensively “we’re still a work in progress.”

Eureka shot just 23 percent against the Cats. Libby just 26 percent.

The boys face Ronan at home Friday night and then travel to Whitefish Saturday. Game times are 7:30 and 6 p.m. respectively.

Ronan returns all five starters from last season and can be a dangerous team if they can get their shots to drop, Finberg noted.

Look for Whitefish to use its size against the Cats.

“We’ve got to get into (Whitefish’s) guards and force the tempo up,” Finberg said. “We’ve got to attack the basket.”

Eureka 5 6 12 4 - 27

Col. Falls 17 21 20 19 - 77

EUREKA - Tanner Peterson 2, Tanner Blankers 7, Chris Ibach 5, Bryce Bartmess 2, Bryton Guckenberg 11.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Devyn Rocker 8, Ronnie Gallegos 2, Alex Presnell 2, Jared Trinastich 4, Austin Martin 2, Nick Emerson 24, Chris King 2, Cale Vukonich 4, Parker Johnson 12, Austin Barth 10, Kaleb Johnson 7.

Columbia Falls 23 13 7 6 - 50

Libby 6 7 10 10 - 33

COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson 15, Chris King 7, Anthony Correa 1, Austin Barth 8, Kaleb Johnson 19.

LIBBY - Reese Jensen 2, Cree Maloney 2, Kelly May 4, Garrett Craig 11, Dan Webster 1, Alex Cislo 3, James Hare 10.