Wildcats sting Yellowjackets in state opener

Defense. Defense. Defense. The Columbia Falls basketball team relied on what got it to the state Class A tournament in Butte on Thursday night, as they downed the Stevensville Yellowjackets 53-36 in a game that was closer than the score would suggest.

“Once we settled in, especially defensively, we made it tough on them,” coach Cary Finberg said.

The Wildcats extended their zone and won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Stevi 34-25.

“Their long misses turned into easy baskets for us,” Finberg said.

The Yellowjackets led by as many as seven in the first quarter, but the Cats cut the margin to 14-11 after the first stanza.

At the break the Cats clung to a 21-20 lead, after missing several bunny layups that didn’t drop.

In the second half, they settled in, especially in the fourth quarter when they outscored the Yellowjackets 21-9.

Austin Barth and Luke Kazlauskas each had 13 points to lead the Cats. Barth also had 13 rebounds, and Kazlauskas had some key steals down the stretch.

The Cats face Billings Central next. They downed top-ranked Browning 51-47.

STEVENSVILLE (18-4) - Zach Gavlak 2-5 2-2 6, Jesse Sims 2-8 3-6 7, Jared Schultz 0-6 1-2 1, Josh Schultz 4-13 0-0 12, Tyler Gavlak 2-4 0-0 5, Josh Lords 1-1 0-2 2, Austin Kelling 1-2 0-0 3, Austin Lords 0-1 0-0 0, Noah Baney 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Lords 0-0 0-0 0, Chance Coleman 0-0 0-0 0, Kadin Beller 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-40 6-12 36.

COLUMBIA FALLS (18-3) - Anthony Correa 1-9 6-8 8, Brian Marcille 1-3 0-0 3, Austin Barth 3-6 6-6 13, Ronny Gallegos 0-1 0-0 0, Parker Johnson 1-4 3-6 6, Alex Presnell 3-4 0-0 6, Austin Martin 0-0 0-0 0, Colin King 0-0 0-0 0, Luke Kazlauskas 6-11 0-1 13, Jared Trinastich 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 17-42 15-21 53.

Stevensville 14 6 7 9 - 36

Columbia Falls 11 10 11 21 - 53

3-pointers - Stevensville 6-20 (Josh Schultz 4-11, T. Gavlak 1-1, Kelling 1-2, Jared Schultz 0-4, Sims 0-1, Z. Gavlak 0-1), CF 4-10 (Marcille 1-1, Barth 1-1, Johnson 1-2, Kazlauskas 1-2, Correa 0-3, Presnell 0-1). Rebounds - Stevensville 25 (Sims 8), CF 34 (Barth 13). Assists - Stevensville 6 (Kelling 4), CF 10 (Barth 5). Fouls - Stevensville 15, CF 9. Fouled out - Z. Gavlak. Technicals - none. Steals - Stevensville 6 (T. Gavlak 3), CF 8 (Correa 3). Blocks - Stevensville 4 (Z. Gavlak 3), CF 0. Turnovers - Stevensville 16, CF 11.