C-Falls starts state play with Browning

For Columbia Falls, it's all about taking care of business this week at the Class A state boys basketball tournament in Butte.

The Wildcats enter play sporting their second divisional title in three years, a five-game winning streak and a 17-3 record.

This also marks Columbia Falls' fourth-straight state tournament appearance. The Wildcats captured a state championship in 2003 and finished third in 2002.

"If they do the things that are necessary, they have a great opportunity in front of them," said Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg of this year's edition of the Wildcats.

"We felt the last two years we played good basketball at the end of the year. This year's team can kinda take that tradition and build on that a little bit and come in with a little confidence."

Columbia Falls faces Browning (8-13) on opening-day Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Civic Center. It's the fourth and finaDl game of the day.

"They have some tradition, they have some athletic kids," said Finberg of Browning.

"They did what they had to do to get to state. They are playing pretty good basketball right now."

Browning, which fell to Flathead, 66-52, Libby, 78-72, and twice to Cut Bank during the regular season, was the No. 4 seed for the Central Divisional. The Indians wound up finishing second to Butte Central (13-8).

Columbia Falls, on the other hand, has beaten Flathead, Libby and Cut Bank during the regular season.

"If we look at comparative scores, at the same time we better realize the score (with Browning) is 0-0," said Finberg. "We better not look past them."

If they do, the Wildcats could be in trouble.

"They've earned the right to be there," said Finberg of the Indians.

"If you don't respect what they have done, they will knock you off."

Defending state champion Libby is not back to defend its title. The Loggers were eliminated by Ronan (*13-9) in a Monday divisional challenge contest.

Ronan faces Butte Central at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

In other first-round action, it's Anaconda (13-7) versus Glendive (16-5) at 12:30 with Sidney (19-1) meeting Corvallis (13-7) at 6.

Sidney and Corvallis are in the same bracket with Columbia Falls and Browning.

Semifinal games are Friday at 6:30 and 8 p.m. The championship game is Saturday night at 8.

Finberg always likes to focus on three things each time out - rebounds, turnovers and free throws. And that approach won't change for Browning."

"If we get more rebounds, less turnovers and get to the line more, we stand a pretty good chance of winning the game," said Finberg.

Those three key elements of the game have favored, the Wildcats more often than not. Columbia Falls is outrebounding the opposition 31.6 to 30, has turned the ball over 64 less times this season and has attempted 46 more free throws.

Columbia Falls is averaging 63.6 points per game while allowing 54.6.

Drew Perry is leading the Wildcats in scoring at 13.8 points per game. Two other starters are also in double digits - Kevin Boyer at 11.9 and Anthony Minson 11.9.

Starters J.D. Fields is at 8.7 and Guy Smith 6.6

Jace Ladenburg, the team's sixth man, is averaging 5.1 points per game.

Minson, 6.7, Greg Macijunas, 4.3, and Boyer, 4.2, are the rebounding leaders.

Fields leads in assists, five per outing, while Perry, 39, and Boyer, have the most steals.

The Wildcats are shooting 44 percent from the field', 30.6 from 3-point range (83 out of 271).

Fields, 69 percent (30 of 44), and Minson, 66.7 (32 of 48), are the top free throw shooters.

Columbia Falls has been involved in six games this season decided by five points or less and has won five of them. The loss was the AA Missoula Hellgate.

"We've played a ton of close games," said Finberg.

"That will benefit us at the tournament. That's a credit to the teams we have played. We have a tough nonconference schedule and our conference schedule (is tough)."