Wildcats trip Broncs for first conference win

Two tight games, two different outcomes. In both this week, the Columbia Falls boys dug themselves substantial holes and then battled back in the second half.

Against Flathead High School at home Dec. 14, the Wildcats were down 43-35 after three stanzas against the Braves but battled back to come within one point in the closing minute of the fourth quarter on strong defense and clutch shooting.

The Cats were down 53-50 with about 25 seconds left when Alex Presnell, who led the team in scoring with 16, had a pretty good look at a three-pointer, but it didn’t fall. The Cats got the rebound, gave it back to Presnell and he hoisted another three, but it was just wide and then time expired.

“They’re the type of team that will cause us problems,” coach Cary Finberg said. “I was proud of the way we scrapped.”

Flathead shot 55 percent while the Cats shot 26 percent.

Against Frenchtown the next night at home, the Cats spotted the Broncs a 15-1 lead to start the game. But the boys settled in and were down by just one at the half. The Broncs had a three-point lead after three stanzas, but the Cats out scored the Broncs 20-12 in the fourth quarter to win by five.

Jared Trinastich had his best game of the year with 19 points even though he was in foul trouble late in the game. He had 17 in the first half.

The Cats need to work on keeping games closer, Finberg noted..

“That’s been our problem the first four games,” he said. “We’ve had stretches where we’re not scoring.”

Finberg said some players are trying to do too much, others not enough. Still, the Cats are finding ways to get it done, struggles or not.

Presnell had 14 of his 16 points in the second half against the Broncs, and the bench stepped up — Mason Gedlaman had four points and four rebounds, Ty Morgan scored eight in the fourth, and Austin Kimmet had three points in the fourth.

The Cats will play Eureka at home Thursday night at 8 p.m. and then Libby at home Saturday at 7 p.m. The team is now 3-1 on the season.

Flathead 6 20 17 10 – 53

Columbia Falls 11 8 16 15 – 50

FLATHEAD – Blaine Newman 4-13 0-0 9, Matt Tokarz 3-5 2-2 9, Chandler Escalante 1-8 0-0 2, Shea Schroeder 3-9 2-3 8, Garth West 2-4 0-0 4, Tommie Owens 0-0 0-2 0, Kaleb Cannaday 0-1 0-0 0, Will Cronk 2-2 0-0 4, Matt Quist 5-7 3-5 14, Adam Bradley 1-1 1-2 3. Totals: 21-50 8-14 53.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Alex Presnell 4-18 4-4 15, Austin Martin 1-3 0-0 3, Colin King 1-7 3-6 6, Luke Kazlauskas 2-6 4-4 9, Jared Trinastich 4-11 2-4 10, Jayce Fagerland 0-2 0-0 0, Grant Stenger 1-1 0-0 2, Nakia Alexander 2-4 1-1 5, Ty Morgan 0-4 0-0 0, Mason Gedlaman 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 15-58 14-19 50.

Frenchtown 20 11 24 12 — 67

Columbia Falls 15 15 22 20 — 72

FRENCHTOWN — John Chapman 23, Levi Shepherd 4, Daniel Lebsock 8, Andrew Honzen 1, Bridger Truett 8, Kyle Cyr 10, Matt Price 7, Jordan Moe 4, Bobby Erbaugh 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 16, Austin Martin 3, Colin King 4, Luke Kazlauskas 12, Ty Morgan 8, Logan Williams 1, Mason Gedlaman 4, Jared Trinastich 19, Austin Kimmet 5.