Wildcats claim consolation game
Beat Ronan 61-50 in season finale
The Daily Inter Lake
WHITEFISH - The Wildcats' reign as two-time defending state champions is over, but they temporarily preserved their three-peat dreams Saturday night, beating upstart Ronan 61-50 in a Northwestern A divisional tournament consolation game.
The victory kept the Columbia Falls High School boys basketball team's season alive - for about two hours. The Wildcats were hoping for a Monday challenge game against Whitefish, but the Bulldogs edged the Loggers in Saturday's tournament championship game, sending Whitefish and Libby to the Class A state tournament in Belgrade. Whitefish's victory rendered a challenge game unnecessary because Libby beat Columbia Falls in Friday's semifinals.
"We put ourselves in a tough spot, and that's our own fault that we (had) to rely on Libby to win, but after stumbling (Friday) night we did what we had to do today," said Columbia Falls coach Cary Finburg, whose team also beat Polson on Saturday morning in loser-out action.
"This team had a great regular season, and the great part about tournament basketball is a team like Libby, who struggled for the most part, can turn their season around in a hurry."
It was a heartbreaking finale to Ronan's turn-around season. The Chiefs led 26-25 at halftime before Columbia Falls took control with a 14-8 third quarter.
"We just couldn't protect the ball enough in the second half, and C-Falls has made a living of it for three, four years now," said Ronan coach John Hollow. "We knew what was coming, and we just made mental mistakes that we can't make against a good team like that, and that was the difference in the game there in the second half."
The Wildcats finish 15-6 while the Chiefs wind up 10-11 following last year's winless season.
"Last year these kids - they had a terrible year," Hollow said. "It was hard, but they never gave up all year. And to come in this year and see them have success - I wish it could have been more success. I'm not satisfied. I'm happy, but I'm not satisfied."
Columbia Falls junior Chase Grilley scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. Senior Michael Taylor came off the bench with 13 points, making all seven of his free-throw attempts.
Seniors Karsten Peterson and Bobby Pearce combined for 15 points for the Wildcats, who drained 18 of 28 foul shots.
Sophomore Mike Fisher II led the Chiefs with 12 points, but Ronan's Cameron Barber stole the show. The 6-foot-3 senior had eight points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Each of his three first-half field goals gave Ronan leads, including a thunderous two-handed dunk, which put the Chiefs on top 9-7 in the first quarter. Barber drove the length of the floor in the final seconds of the second quarter and buried a buzzer-beating layup to give Ronan its halftime advantage.
"He's one of the best players in the state," Hollow said. "I don't care what anybody has to say out there - he's one of the best players in the state. I'm glad he got the opportunity to showcase himself a little bit in front of some people."
Columbia Falls succeeded by upping its intensity after halftime and relying on its talented bench, as it did all season.
"We play a lot of kids, and we seemed to be a step quicker in the fourth quarter, a little fresher," Finberg said. "Our bench guys just came in and did a tremendous job this game. (Jared) Jimmerson, defensively, was everywhere and took care of the ball. Taylor hit some big shots, Bobby Pearce hit some big shots, and our bench and our depth, I think, was a huge difference."
Hollow said Ronan's loss was not attributed to a lack of energy.
"The place was packed to the rafters, so if you can't get excited for that, no matter how tired you are, then you're in the wrong sport," Hollow said. "Our kids didn't lose the game because they lacked intensity or lacked focus, we just made some mistakes. It wasn't anything physical. They busted their tails tonight."
Junior Moss Tanner led the Chiefs with four assists, but his playing time was limited due to foul trouble and a badly-sprained ankle.
"Most guys probably wouldn't have even been out there playing," Hollow said. "He played on it twice today. He's our general on the floor."
The Wildcats must wait until next season to challenge for another state title, but they impressed Hollow.
"Columbia Falls played a hell of a game," Hollow said. "It seems like it doesn't matter who (Finberg) has up there. He's got a great system and we couldn't handle it tonight."
The Wildcats didn't return any starters from last year's state championship team, but they still won the Northwestern A regular season title.
"We're not relying on one or two guys to get the job done - it's a team effort," Finberg said. "That's why we've been successful in the past, and it was definitely a team effort tonight."
Ronan 10 16 8 16 - 50
Columbia Falls 9 16 14 22 - 61
RONAN (10-11) - Moss Tanner 2 0-0 4, Mike Fisher II 4 2-2 12, Billy Antoine 0 2-2 2, Ryon Hesselgesser 1 0-0 2, Jordan St. Clair 2 1-1 6, Kyle Orr 0 0-2 0, Gene Adams 3 1-2 7, Nolan Harris 3 0-0 9, Cameron Barber 3 2-4 8. Totals 18 8-13 50.
COLUMBIA FALLS (16-5) - Chase Fairbank 2 0-1 4, Jared Jimmerson 0 2-4 2, Kyle Jangula 1 0-0 2, Dustin Gibson 0 1-3 1, Karsten Peterson 3 1-3 7, Bobby Pearce 3 0-0 8, Mackey Nolan 1 0-0 2, Michael Taylor 3 7-7 13, Chase Grilley 7 5-8 20, Grant Getts 0 2-2 2. Totals 20 18-28 61.
3-point goals - Ron. 6 (Harris 3, Fisher II 2, St. Clair 1), CF 3 (Pearce 2, Grilley 1). Rebounds - Ron. 24 (Barber 12, Tanner 5, Fisher II 2, Adams 2, Harris 2, Antoine 1), CF 27 (Gibson 6, Grilley 5, Jangula 4, Peterson 4, Taylor 3, Fairbank 1, Pearce 1, Getts 1, Nolan 1, Mitchell Wassam 1). Assists - Ron. 14 (Tanner 4, Harris 3, Adams 2, St. Clair 2, Fisher II 1, Hesselgesser 1, Barber 1), CF NA. Steals - Ron. 13 (St. Clair 4, Fisher II 2, Antoine 2, Adams 2, Tanner 1, Barber 1, Hesselgesser 1), CF NA. Blocks - Ron. 4 (Barber 4), CF NA. Turnovers - Ron. 20, CF 20. Total fouls - Ron. 26, CF 13. Fouled out - Harris.