C-Falls sweeps Flathead

Perry paces Wildcats with 24 points

The patient approach paid off in the end.

Columbia Falls went with a more deliberate attack in the final period and the strategy helped the Wildcats post a 63-52 nonconference boys basketball victory over Flathead Thursday in the FHS gym.

Columbia Falls took a four-point edge, 45-41 into the final eight minutes of play and promptly outscored the Braves 18-11 in the fourth period to improve to 9-1 overall.

Flathead, which dropped both season meetings to the third-ranked Wildcats, falls to 2-8.

"We wanted to continue to attack," said Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg of the final quarter.

"When we attacked, we got good looks. That's the type of tempo we want to play."

Flathead, which trailed by 11 points in each of the final three periods, managed to get as close as one point - 42-41 - on a turnaround jumper by John Farrier in the paint.

That came with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Columbia Falls, however, answered with a huge trey by J.D. Fields just as time expired to put the Wildcats up 45-41.

"That was a big basket," said Finberg of Fields.

"He's been struggling with his shot a little bit, but when he gets it going, he's tough. What I like about him is he's not afraid to take the big shot."

Columbia Falls followed that trey with a 5-0 start in the fourth period to go in front by nine, 50-41. Anthony Minson hit a pair of free throws and Kevin Boyer nailed a 3-point field goal.

"We just have to make better decisions with the lead like that," said Finberg.

"We knew it would be a lot tougher here, and it was.

"I thought we played hard, we just didn't play as smart a game as we would have liked."

The Braves managed to get within five, 56-51. with 1:30 to play on a field goal by Geoff Hogan, but that was as close as they would get.

The Wildcats used a traditional three-point play by Drew Perry and four straight free throws by Fields and Minson to ice the contest.

"That's the way we play," said Flathead coach Fred Febach of battling down to the final seconds.

"We're not overly talented, but (the Braves) refuse to give up. That's important when you get to this point of the season and when things are not going very well. It's to their credit they battle back."

Keying the Braves' second-half rally was Farrier. The 6-foot-2 senior forward/post tallied 13 of his season-high 19 points in the final two periods.

He also tied for the team lead in rebounds with Andrew Cavigli, seven apiece, and in assists with Jordan Lister and Stefan Malkuch, three each.

Farrier was all over the floor, including diving for loose balls until he finally fouled out with under a minute to play. That led to a standing ovation by the student section and many FHS fans.

"He upped his level of play and that brings everyone else up," said Febach of Farrier.

"That physical effort is contagious. People think he only does that in games, but he also does that in practice."

Farrier was one of two Braves in double figures scoring. Cavigli finished with 15.

Perry paced Columbia Falls with a game-high 24. Boyer finished with 13 and Minson 12.

Both teams finished with 21 field goals, but Columbia Falls capitalized at the line, hitting 18 of 27 foul shots. Flathead had 12 attempts, making six.

"That's the story right there," said Febach.

Flathead outboarded Columbia Falls 27-24 and had five more turnovers for the contest, 21-16. The Braves, however, turned it over just six times in the final half.

Columbia Falls continues with nonconference play, hosting Missoula Hellgate tonight. Flathead also stays out of conference play, at Whitefish tonight. Both tip-offs are set for 7:30 p.m.

WILDCATS 63, BRAVES 52

Columbia Falls 13 18 14 18 - 63

Flathead 11 11 19 11 - 52

Columbia Falls - Justin Heinrichs 1 1-2 3, J.D. Fields 2 2-3 7, Drew Perry 10 4-8 24, Kevin Boyer 4 3-4 13, Jace Ladenburg 1 0-0 2, Anthony Minson 3 6-6 12, Greg Macijunas 0 2-4 2. Totals: 21 18-27 63.

Flathead - Beau Watkins 1 1-2 4, Jordan Lister 1 0-0 2, Jeremy DeHerrera 2 1-2 7, Andrew Cavigli 7 1-2 15, John Farrier 8 2-4 19, Geoff Hogan 2 1-2 5. Totals: 21 6-12 52.

3-point goals: Fields, Boyer (2); Watkins, DeHerrera (2), Farrier. Team fouls: Columbia Falls 17, Flathead 19. Fouled out: Farrier.