Dogs spoil Cats' senior night
Derek Kastella pulls up for a jumpshot during Thursday’s win over Columbia Falls. (Daniel McKay photos/Whitefish Pilot)
Sawyer Silliker launches a jumper during Thursday's win over Columbia Falls.
Lee Walburn gets by Columbia Falls’ Dakota Bridwell during Thursday night’s win.
Ryan Kemm launches a three in the second quarter of Thursday's win over Columbia Falls.
Derek Kastella celebrates after a layup late in Thursday’s win against Columbia Falls. (Daniel McKay photos/Whitefish Pilot)
The Bulldogs avenged a home loss to the rival Wildcats at a packed Columbia Falls gym in convincing fashion Thursday night. The Dogs won 56-41.
Seniors Derek Kastella and Sawyer Silliker combined for 32 of Whitefish’s 56 points, with 15 of those points in the first quarter alone.
Whitefish (7-11, 2-4) jumped to an early 14-point lead in the first but a Columbia Falls run cut the lead to just four at half. The Bulldogs regained a solid lead in the third, and a Kastella three ended a Wildcat run at the end of the quarter, putting Whitefish squarely in the driver seat.
Kastella finished with a game-high 20 points. Silliker and Ryan Kemm added 12 and 11.
Logan Stephens led the Wildcats with 17 points.
“It was a big win obviously, it was huge for our confidence,” head coach Sean Duff said. “It was good to come out on top and pick up some momentum. It was a valuable experience for our sophomores.”
Whatever momentum the Dogs had built with back-to-back conference wins came to a screeching halt Saturday, when Polson blew out Whitefish by 47 points.
The Pirates (13-5 overall, 5-1 Northwest A) opened a 17-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
Jeremiah North Piegan had 24 points, Matthew Rensvold had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Tanner Wilson 15 points for Polson.
Kastella led Whitefish with 11 points.
“They just physically beat us, pushed us around,” Duff said. “We weren’t really ready to play.”
Polson sits atop Northwest A, with Frenchtown and Whitefish behind at second and third. Despite Dillon’s unbeaten 18-0 record, Duff said the Pirates are the team to beat in the Western A Divisional Tournament this week in Hamilton.
“I honestly think Polson is the best team in Class A. They’re a tough matchup for anybody. You can’t make mistakes, and we made way too many against them,” he said.
Whitefish opens tournament play Wednesday against Butte Central at 7:45 p.m.
Butte Central finished the regular season 10-8 overall and 4-4 in Southwest A conference play, taking second behind Dillon.
“Butte is probably the most patient team I’ve seen in high school basketball. They don’t take bad shots. We’ve got to play the same game, take quality shots on quality possessions,” he said.
“Anybody’s got a shot at anybody in the tournament,” he added.
Whitefish 18 5 16 17 — 56
Columbia Falls 6 13 12 10 — 41
WHITEFISH — Derek Kastella 20, Murphy Wick 2, Sawyer Silliker 12, Ryan Kemm 11, Lee Walburn 6, Dillon Botner 5.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Austin Green 10, Logan Stephens 17, Quintin Schriver 4, Matthew Morrison 8, DJ Schrade 2.
Whitefish 7 14 7 3 — 31
Polson 24 16 21 17 — 78
WHITEFISH — Derek Kastella 11, Murphy Wick 3, Sawyer Silliker 5, Ryan Kemm 3, Lee Walburn 3, Dillon Botner 6.
POLSON — J’Von Johnson 6, Robin Erickson 2, Jayden Bautista 8, Tanner Wilson 15, Jeremiah North Piegan 24, Connor Lanier 4, Matthew Rensvold 17, Parker Toth 2.