Kaz's D crucial in the clutch over Braves

Offense may make the highlight reel, but defense wins basketball games. The Columbia Falls boys basketball team learned that fact Jan. 21 when they beat the rival Flathead Braves 52-44 in the closing minute on two huge steals by Luke Kazlauskas.

The Cats were up by just a point and Flathead had the ball with just over a minute to play when Kazlauskas stole the ball and went the length of the floor for a lay-up to put the boys up by three.

On the next possession, Kazlauskas stole the ball again and drove to the rim. The desperation heave didn't go in, but teammate Parker Johnson, who was just behind him, put the ball through the net to widen the margin to six. By then, there was just a few ticks on the clock and the Braves had no answers.

"This was a game where we needed to gut it out defensively and we did that," coach Cary Finberg said. "It was pure hustle on Luke's part. That's the type of team we need to be on some nights."

Kazlauskas led the team with 15 points and three steals on the night. Johnson, Austin Barth and Jared Trinastich had 10 points apiece.

The Braves won the battle of the offensive glass, with seven more offensive rebounds than the Cats, something the team needs to work on down the stretch, Finberg noted.

Against Frenchtown on Jan. 19, the boys scored early and often, racing out to a 25-10 lead in the first quarter. Barth led the squad with 20 points. Anthony Correa had 13, and Kazlauskas had 11. The boys (4-0, 8-3) faced Eureka at home Tuesday after presstime and will play Libby at home Thursday with a scheduled 7:30 p.m. start.