Knapton’s putback leads Wildcats over Ronan

by Daily Inter Lake
| February 18, 2021 10:13 PM

COLUMBIA FALLS — Allec Knapton’s putback of a missed free throw was the difference Thursday, as Columbia Falls edged Ronan 56-55 in a Northwest A boys’ basketball battle.

Alihn Anderson led the Wildcats (6-8 overall, 4-5 in league) with 20 points, while Jace Hill added 16. Knapton finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and reached his double-double by rescuing a free throw miss by teammate Mason Peters.

Ronan (9-5, 4-4) called time with 4 seconds left and got a decent look from Leonard Burke off a full-court pass. He missed, and finished with 19 points.

Ronan 11 24 13 7 – 55

Col. Falls 20 14 6 16– 56

RONAN – Ruben Couture 4, Girma Detwiler 4, Payton Cates 4, Zarec Couture 7, Elijah Tonasket 8, Leonard Burke 19, Sage Coffman 7, Marlo Tonasket 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Cade Morgan 6, Mason Peters 2, Alihn Anderson 20, Jace Hill 16, Cooper Babcock 2, Allec Knapton 10.

Elsewhere

CLASS A

Libby 43, Whitefish 36

WHITEFISH — Caden Williams poured in 19 points to help the Libby Loggers beat Northwest A foe, the Whitefish Bulldogs, 43-36.

TJ Anderson added 10 points for the Loggers (8-6 overall, 5-5 league), who trailed by three points at the half. A 17-point fourth-quarter surge by the Loggers powered them to the finish.

For Whitefish (6-8, 3-6), Bodie Smith and Jayce Cripe each scored 10 points.

Libby 6 6 14 17 – 43

Whitefish 7 8 10 11 – 36

LIBBY – Ryder Davis 3, Cy Stevenson 2, Jay Beagle 7, Caden Williams 19, Ryker McElmurry 2, TJ Anderson 10.

WHITEFISH – Bodie Smith 10, Logan Conklin 3, Marvin Kimera 4, Jayce Cripe 10, Talon Holmquist 9.

CLASS B

Eureka 71, Troy 25

EUREKA — Gavin Bates scored 23 points for the Eureka Lions to help them blow out the Troy Trojans 71-25 in District 7-B boys hoops.

Bates’ 23 points included five 3-pointers and he scored 19 of his points in the second half.

TJ Carr added 10 points for Eureka, while Danny Dunn and Colter Casazza each scored seven.

For Troy, Trevor Grant scored 10 points.

Troy 1 8 10 6 – 25

Eureka 17 20 24 10 – 71

TROY – Trevor Grant 10, Paxson Fisher 3, Tyler Munts 3, Malachi Montgomery 5, Michael Foote 4.

EUREKA – Joey Kindel 6, Danny Dunn 7, Colter Casazza 7, Caleb Utter 3, Gavin Bates 23, Carson Komac 6, TJ Carr 10, Hazen Bohn 6, Trent Truman 3.