Cats streak ends at 13
It’s over. Last week the Polson Pirates stopped the Columbia Falls boys basketball team’s winning streak dead in its tracks. The Pirates downed the Wildcats Saturday 59-52. Polson held a six-point lead at the half and extended it to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.
The Cats cut the margin to single digits, but it was too little, too late.
The boys didn’t do much to help themselves. On Friday night all but two starters were suspended for inappropriate behavior — reportedly toward underclassmen — on the bus ride back from Thompson Falls the week before.
“I’m disappointed that our focus was taken away from basketball,” said coach Cary Finberg. “We need to try to pick up the pieces and get our focus back where it needs to be.”
Finberg called the incident “embarrassing,” for both himself and the coaching staff.
With seniors Nick Emerson, Chris King, Kaleb Johnson, Cale Vukonich and junior Anthony Correa suspended against Libby Friday, it left the heavy lifting to juniors Austin Barth and Parker Johnson.
Johnson played all 32 minutes and Barth sat out at the most a minute or two in a gutsy win against the Loggers, 33-31. Barth led the team with 14, Parker had 10. Senior Jacob Calderwood also played well, hitting a clutch shot with 20 seconds left to put the Cats up for good. The game also featured juniors Ronnie Gallegos, Brian Marcille and freshman Jared Trinastich — all players normally on the junior varsity team.
“I was proud of the kids that played Friday night,” Finberg said. “They were put in a tough position and played their hearts out and got a win.”
Finberg blamed the Polson loss on a combination of the Pirates being a very good team and the Cats still not having their heads “in the right spot.”
The team will try to regroup this week as they face Ronan away Friday night and Whitefish at home Saturday. Game time Saturday is 4:30 p.m.
Libby 4 8 5 14 - 31
Columbia Falls 8 7 13 5 - 33
LIBBY - Alex Cislo 10, James Hare 10, Garrett Craig 6, Kelly May 3, Cree Maloney 2. Totals 13 3-5 31
COLUMBIA FALLS - Austin Barth 14, Parker Johnson 10, Jared Trinastich 3, Ronny Gallegos 2, Brian Marcille 2, Jacob Calderwood 2. Totals 12 9-12 33.
3-point goals: Libby 2 (Craig 2), Columbia Falls 0. Total fouls: Libby 14, Columbia Falls 8. Fouled out: None.
Columbia Falls 17 8 5 22 - 52
Polson 15 16 13 15 - 59
COLUMBIA FALLS - Devyn Rocker 6, Nick Emerson 15, Chris King 11, Parker Johnson 7, Austin Barth 4, Kaleb Johnson 9.
POLSON - Tyler Krell 10, Kyle Bagnell 9, Zach Camel 4, Sheldon Fisher 13, Cody Fischer 5, Louis Mohr 18.