Dogs go cold at rival Columbia Falls

A close game turned into a blowout as the Whitefish boys basketball team went icy cold in the fourth quarter Saturday at rival Columbia Falls.

The Wildcats outscored the Dogs by 10 points in the final frame to pick up the 56-36 Northwest A victory.

Art Doorn was a force in the paint with 16 points and EJ Havens added 13, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an overall poor shooting night for Whitefish. The rest of the team combined for just seven points.

Whitefish hushed the packed house at Columbia Falls with an early lead in the first quarter and trailed by just five points late in the second quarter.

The Cats led by 16 with 1:20 left in the third, but an offensive burst by Whitefish closed the margin to 10 at the end of the quarter. Columbia Falls dominated the fourth to put the game out of reach.

On Friday, the Dogs held on to edge Plains 55-49. Keaton Nicholson had a monster game with 17 points.

Whitefish hosts Polson Friday at 8 p.m.

Whitefish 5 9 14 8 — 36

Col. Falls 10 13 15 18 — 56

WHITEFISH — AJ Wetsch 4, EJ Havens 13, Art Doorn 16, Luke May 2, Garrett Anderson 1.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 13, Trevor Houston 5, Jayce Fagerland 5, Nakia Alexander 6, Ty Morgan 4, Jared Trinastich 15, Grant Wallace 8.

Plains  3 11 16 19 — 49

Whitefish 15 12 13 15 — 55

PLAINS — Ryan Ovitt 6, Aaron Baker 13, Kyle Reviet 9, James Rulison 15, Trent Brouillette 6.

WHITEFISH — Keaton Nicholson 17, Alex Wilson 2, EJ Havens 14, Art Doorn 11, Garrett Anderson 7.