Columbia Falls vs. Polson for title

RONAN - Five Wildcats scored in double figures to ensure Columbia Falls will be defending its Northwestern A boys divisional basketball title tonight for the second year in a row.

Nick Emerson scored a game-high 16 points and Parker Johnson, Austin Barth and Anthony Correa each chipped in 12 points as the Wildcats downed Ronan 74-55 in semifinal play on Friday afternoon.

"I was real happy," Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said of his team's performance.

"We got contributions from a lot of guys. Balanced scoring is always nice.

"Anthony Correa, that was his carrer high," Finberg said.

"I thought he came ready to play."

Columbia Falls will play Polson in the championship game tonight at 6.

"We pushed the ball up the floor, we played with a lot of aggressiveness," Finberg said.

"We need to play with that same aggressiveness tomorrow."

The Wildcats forced 23 turnovers and committed only nine.

Columbia Falls also shot 25-for-38 from the free-throw line.

Jarod Tanner and Justin Dustybull each scored 12 and Marcus Hungerford had 10 for Ronan, who will play the winner of Libby and Whitefish in loser-out action today at 2 p.m.

Ronan 15 12 17 11 - 55

Columbia Falls 25 15 18 16 - 74

RONAN - Jarod Tanner 12, Justin Dustybull 12, Kevin Wroblewski 10, Marcus Hungerford 7, Lucas Black 4, Brady Oakland 3, Robert Faoa 3, Chris Clary 2, Jackson Jore 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson 16, Parker Johnson 12, Austin Barth 12, Anthony Correa 12, Kaleb Johnson 11, Chris King 3, Devyn Rocker 3, Cale Vukonich 3, Ronny Gallegos 2.

Polson 52,

Whitefish 49

RONAN - Louis Mohr and Kyle Bagnell combined for 32 points as Polson edged Whitefish in a Northwestern A divisional semifinal game.

Kyler Blades scored a game-high 18 points for Whitefish, which outscored Polson 25-21 in the second half but came up just short.

Alex Duroche chipped in 10 points and Cooper Olson nine.

Polson went on a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter.

Blades hit a trey at the buzzer to cut the deficit in half.

Polson moves on to the championship game against Columbia Falls at 6 p.m.

Whitefish plays Libby today at 9 a.m. in loser-out action.

Whitefish 15 9 15 10 - 49

Polson 13 18 9 12 - 52

WHITEFISH - Kyler Blades 18, Alex Duroche 10, Cooper Olson 9, Drew Galbraith 4, Gage Vasquez 4, Mac Roche 2, Christopher Forrest 2.

POLSON - Louis Mohr 17, Kyle Bagnell 15, Vince DiGiallonardo 8, Sheldon Fisher 6, Tyler Krell 4, Cody Fischer 2.