Dogs vs. Cats: A rivalry renewed
The biggest game of the year. That’s how Whitefish coach Mark Casazza described Saturday’s showdown with Columbia Falls prior to tip-off. It would be a measuring stick for this Bulldog team stacked with senior leadership and athleticism.
The Dogs rose to the challenge.
Shaking a pesky four-year losing streak to their rivals, Whitefish’s boys basketball team thumped the No. 3 ranked Wildcats 50-35 in front of a home crowd packed into the Dawg House. The win positions Whitefish (6-3, 2-1) second in the conference behind Frenchtown.
Whitefish blew open the game in the third quarter with a lock-down defense that held the Cats to just three points in the quarter.
“Our defense is what has carried us in the big games,” senior guard Cooper Olson said after the game. “Defensive intensity has been our main focus of the year and we did exactly what we needed to do to get the win.”
Eight players scored for Whitefish in a balanced offensive attack, led by 14 from senior Logan Harwood. Olson added nine and E.J. Havens had eight.
Whitefish led 9-7 at the end of the first period with all points coming on 3-pointers — two from Olson and one from Harwood.
The Cats went on a run in the second, but Whitefish battled back to tie it at the half after Harwood scored on a drive to the hoop just before the buzzer.
The third started with Havens scoring in the post. Harwood cashed a trey to make it 26-22. In a highlight play, Harwood drove the lane, then in mid air with defenders in his face, he dished a pass to Jake May for an easy layup.
Havens stroked a 3-pointed to make it 31-22 at the end of the quarter.
May crashed the boards all night against the Columbia Falls big men. To start the fourth he put down his shoulder to create room in the post for a hard-earned bucket.
“It’s always fun to bang for rebounds, especially as a football player,” May joked after the game.
Casazza said May gave the Dogs good minutes.
“He was grabbing rebounds, making assists — he does all the little things we need to be successful.”
Junior Art Doorn gave a spark off the bench with a pair of 3-pointers to keep the Dogs in front.
Jace Kalbfleisch added three consecutive scores in the post to extend the lead to a dozen. Harwood capped the scoring on a hard drive to the hoop where he converted an and-1 at the line.
“We had good offensive possessions tonight,” Harwood said. “We hit some threes, but we waited for the layups and took time off the clock.”
Olson said the team has been rolling since Christmas break. They carried their momentum into the rivalry game.
“This is the biggest game of the year and this is the last time as seniors we get to play Columbia Falls in our house. We wanted to go out with a bang.”
It feels good to beat their rivals, Olson said, but the team has bigger aspirations.
“Our eye is on state,” Olson said with confidence.
C. Falls 7 12 3 13 – 35
Whitefish 9 10 12 18 – 50
COLUMBIA FALLS – Alex Presnell 7, Grant Stienger 1, Austin Martin 3, Colin King 2, Luke Kazlauskas 4, Nakia Alexander 2, Ty Morgan 1, Mason Gedlaman 2, Jared Trinastich 13.
WHITEFISH – Keaton Nicholson 2, E.J. Havens 8, Logan Harwood 14, Jace Kalbfleisch 6, Art Doorn 5, Cooper Olson 9, A.J. Wetch 2, Jake May 4.