C-Falls sweeps Flathead on hardwood
COLUMBIA FALLS — Behind a strong defense and a strong backcourt, the Columbia Falls boys erased a poor showing in the first quarter to beat a physical Flathead team 43-42 in a nonconference basketball game on Saturday night.
The Wildcats leaned on their experienced backcourt to pull the team out of a hole early on, as starting center Jared Trinastich picked up his third foul less than 10 minutes into the game. The group cut a seven-point deficit to one by halftime and took off in the third, making some dazzling plays along the way.
In a key stretch, Nakia Alexander sliced through three defenders while getting fouled to lay in a bucket, followed by a pair of Alex Presnell free throws and a circus shot from Ty Morgan, which he hit while going to the floor and flipping the ball up off the high end of the backboard to give Columbia Falls its first lead of the game. Alexander hit a 3-pointer the next possession and by the end of the stretch, the Wildcats had turned a four-point deficit into a 33-26 lead, all while holding Flathead scoreless for more than six minutes of gameplay.
Columbia Falls led by seven points at the start of the fourth quarter when Flathead began to answer. Senior post players Matt Quist and Adam Bradley began to reassert themselves down low and a 3-pointer from Blaine Newman tied the game at 37-37 with five minutes to play.
The Wildcats took the lead again late on free throws and a tough bank shot from Alexander as Flathead went cold from the field. The Braves scored just twice in the final four minutes, the last on another Newman 3-pointer with six seconds to play. Flathead nearly forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass, but time had run out before a play could be made.
“They played well tonight,” Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said. “I thought once we settled in there about midway through the first quarter, we kinda grinded it out a bit and battled through.
“Sometimes come tournament time those are the games that you need to find a way to win. We did that tonight.”
Quist led all scorers with 13 points for Flathead. Presnell had 10 to lead the Wildcats.
“We’re our own worst enemy,” Flathead coach Fred Febach said.
“We self-destruct at times out there. We have to get through that. We have to do a better job of being disciplined, both on the offensive and defensive ends. We struggle with that right now.
“I know it will get better, I know the kids want it to get better, fortunately it’s still early in the season.”
Flathead 17 6 7 12 — 42
Columbia Falls 12 10 15 6 — 43
FLATHEAD — Blaine Newman 11, Tommie Owens 2, Chandler Escalante 4, Trae Habel 4, Keaton Krantz 2, Adam Bradley 6, Matt Quist 13.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 10, Trevor Houston 5, Austin Kimmet 6, Nakia Alexander 9, Ty Morgan 6, Mason Gedlaman 5, Jared Trinastich 2.
GIRLS
Columbia Falls 53,
Flathead 41
COLUMBIA FALLS — Flathead was nearly able to mount a comeback on the road before falling apart in the fourth quarter, losing to Columbia Falls in a nonconference contest.
Columbia Falls dominated most of the way, leading by nine at halftime before the Bravettes were able to find a groove.
Jenessa Heine scored eight straight points and Tana Fountain hit a mid-range jumper to complete a 12-4 run in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one.
The Wildkats quelled that run with a 15-1 start to the fourth quarter, taking advantage as Flathead went cold from the field, building a big enough lead to coast to the finish.
“That’s the type of game we need to be playing throughout the game instead of having the three to five minute lulls like we had tonight,” Cary Finberg said.
Heine had a game-high 17 points. Ciera Finberg led the Wildkats with 13.
“Today we just couldn’t get the ball in the hole,” Flathead coach Lisa Hendrickson said.
“Columbia Falls played great. They had great defense, they’re a really disciplined team.”
The win is yet another mark on an impressive resume to start the season for the Wildkats. On top of Saturday’s victory over an athletic Flathead squad, they have wins over Class A powers Frenchtown and Hamilton, and enter the Christmas break undefeated.
“I’m very happy with the way they’re playing right now,” Cary Finberg said.
“I think we can play better and the girls realize that. Where we’re sitting right now I’m very happy with this group.
Flathead 11 7 12 11 — 41
Columbia Falls 15 12 4 23 — 53
FLATHEAD — Emma Andrews 4, Tana Fountain 7, Kelsey Noland-Gillespie 4, Lizzie Sherwood 4, Tiana Johnson 2, Jessica Simmons 3, Jenessa Heine 17.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Summer Burlage 6, Ciera Finberg 13, Cydney Finberg 9, Ellie Johnson 3, Andrea Getts 4, Winter Kemppainen 5, Miranda Livingston 3, Kiara Burlage 2, Haley Belgarde 8.