Cats tame Blue Ponies in round one of state tourney

They had a slow start, but the Columbia Falls boys basketball team handled Havre at the state Class A playoffs, defeating the Blue Ponies 50-36 on Thursday in Great Falls.

The Wildcats were led by Ty Morgan with 19 points. Morgan sparked the Cats with 5-of-12 shooting but was perfect from the free throw line, going 8 for 8.

Both teams were cold at the start. The Cats posted a meager 4-2 lead after the first quarter but extended the lead to 18-8 by the half.

For the game, the Cats shot just 36 percent from the field, but won the rebounding battle 36-27, including pulling in 15 offensive rebounds.

Grant Wallace had eight points off the bench. Jared Trinastich had nine points and eight rebounds.

The Cats advance to play Laurel tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. Laurel defeated Stevensville in first round play by 61-41.

In other tournament play, Dillon defeated Miles City 59-47 and Belgrade defeated Polson 40-35.

Columbia Falls 50, Havre 36

Havre 2 6 11 17 — 36

Columbia Falls 4 14 10 22 — 50

Havre — Jerod Boles 0-5 0-0 0, Nate Rismon 2-7 0-0 6, Jonathan Faber 0-1 0-0 0, Dane Warp 7-14 1-1 15, Michael Bakke 0-1 2-4 2, Jase Kato 2-4 0-0 4, Kade Rismon 3-12 3-4 9. Totals: 14-44 6-9.

Columbia Falls — Alex Presnell 3-9 0-0 6, Trevor Houston 0-2 0-0 0, Grant Stenger 0-1 0-0 0, Jayce Fagerland 1-6 1-4 5, Austin Kimmet 0-1 0-0 0, Nakia Alexander 1-3 0-0 2, Ty Morgan 5-12 8-8 19, Mason Gedlaman 0-1 1-2 1, Jared Trinastich 4-8 1-3 9, Grant Wallace 4-6 0-0 8. Totals: 18-49 12-16.

3-pointers: Havre 2-15 (Boles 0-4, N. Rismon 2-6, Faber 0-1, Warp 0-4), Columbia Falls 2-13 (Presnell 0-3, Fagerland 1-4, Alexander 0-1, Morgan 1-5). Rebounds: Havre 27 (Warp 8), Columbia Falls 35 (Trinastich 8). Total fouls: Havre 12, Columbia Falls 12. Fouled out: none. Turnovers: Havre 14, Columbia Falls 10. Assists: Havre 7 (N. Rismon 3), Columbia Falls 9 (Fagerland 5). Steals: Havre 6 (Warp 3), Columbia Falls 7.