Wildkats have eyes on state tourney - and maybe more

COLUMBIA FALLS — Cary Finberg has been around long enough to know not to count the chickens before they hatch.

That’s why, when the seventh-year Columbia Falls coach discusses his team’s prospects of defending its Class A girls basketball state championship this season, he’s quick to add a qualifier.

“You can’t win a state championship unless you get to the state tournament,” Finberg said.

You could forgive one for taking that for granted.

Finberg has guided five consecutive teams to the state tournament, and the past four have finished in the top 3.

“Every year, we basically set two goals,” Finberg said. “One goal is to try to get better every day. The second goal is to make the state tournament. It’s no different this year.”

The results have also been no different this year.

Columbia Falls currently sits atop the Northwest A conference with an undefeated record in league play and is No. 1 in the state, according to the latest 406mtsports.com rankings.

Overall, the Wildkats are 11-1. The lone loss came against Class AA foe Glacier.

“We kind of went into this year really not knowing how this team was going to develop,” Finberg said. “They’ve exceeded expectations.”

Finberg’s expectations — while lofty, per usual — were tempered a bit entering the season due to Columbia Falls’ lack of experience.

Four starters graduated from last year’s state title team, leaving all-state point guard Dani Douglas as the lone returner. She, along with Ryley Kehr, Trista Cowan, Hannah Gedlaman and a host of other contributors, has acclimated to a leadership role just fine, even without the wealth of lost talent alongside her.

The team’s success so far this year has Columbia Falls considering the possibility of another state title. If only it can make the tournament first.

“Hopefully, come tournament time, we’re playing our best basketball,” Finberg said. “Once you get there, anything can happen at that point.”

Columbia Falls hosts Corvallis today at 7:15 p.m.