Boys basketball splits games with Libby, CFalls
The Bulldogs celebrate a buzzer shot by Mason Kelch at the end of the first period in Columbia Falls on Saturday. (JP Edge photo)
Sophomore CJ Thew drives towards the basket in Columbia Falls on Saturday. (JP Edge photo)
Junior Mason Genovese takes a long shot in Columbia Falls on Saturday. (JP Edge photo)
Senior Josh Downie takes a shot in Columbia Falls on Saturday. (JP Edge photo)
In two games last week, Whitefish went 1-1 to end its regular season. The Bulldogs defeated Libby on Friday 42-40 and fell to Columbia Falls Saturday, 74-47.
In Libby, the Bulldogs and the Loggers played even with each other through the first half, with Whitefish taking a slight 23-22 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Libby took over the lead. But the game came right down to the wire, as Whitefish outscored Libby 9-6 in the fourth to take the win.
Whitefish had a tough time shutting down Logger Tyler Andersen who scored a game-high 23 points. Bulldog Jack Sears led the way in scoring for Whitefish with 15 points and sophomore CJ Thew threw up 11. Mason Kelch had 9 points.
The next afternoon the Bulldogs headed to rival Columbia Falls. Whitefish made it tough on the Wildcats through the first half. The Bulldogs had a slight lead after the first quarter, but the Cats’ 20-point second quarter gave them a 35-29 halftime lead.
In the second half, CFalls’ streak continued as they built the lead over the Bulldogs. Full-court press and intensified defense caused turnovers from Whitefish. The Wildcats never let their foot off the gas and ran away with the game.
For the Cats, Alihn Anderson led with 19 points. Kelch led Whitefish with 12 points and Josh Downie had 10 points.
Whitefish ended the regular season 5-10 overall and 4-5 in league play. Whitefish finished fourth in the Northwest A conference and will either play Ronan or Libby in a play-in game on Saturday. Winner of that game will head to divisonals.
The Bulldogs host the play-in game Saturday at 2 p.m. at Whitefish High School.
Whitefish 10 13 10 9 - 42
Libby 9 13 12 6 - 40
WHITEFISH — Jack Sears 15, CJ Thew 11, Mason Kelch 9, Mason Genovese 3, Josh Downie 2, Carson Krack 2.
LIBBY — Tyler Andersen 23, Cy Williams 7, Ryan Beagle 6, Caleb Moeller 2, Trevor Collins 2.
Whitefish 18 11 13 5 - 47
Columbia Falls 15 20 24 15 - 74
WHITEFISH — Mason Kelch 12, Josh Downie 10, Jack Sears 9, Carson Krack 6, Dane Hunt 5, Mason Genovese 3, CJ Thew 3, Daniel To 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Alihn Anderson 19, Hunter Goodman 14, Cody Schweikert 12, Jace Hill 10, Bryce Dunham 8, Mark Robison 5, Reggie Sapa 4, Silas Ypma 2.
