Cats win Class A state championship
Fourth-ranked Columbia Falls capped off the 2013-14 boys basketball season Saturday night by downing top-ranked Dillon 56-47 in the Class A state championship game at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.
The Wildcats (19-4) trailed only twice, by one point both times in the opening quarter, and led by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter. Dillon (20-3) trailed by two after the first eight minutes, 16-14, and by five at the half, 31-26.
“I thought we got off to a pretty good start,” Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said. “We talked about it at halftime — Dillon led us in second-chance points and points after turnovers, and we were still ahead. If we could correct those two things, we could control the third quarter and that happened.”
Jayce Fagerland’s three-pointer with 4:37 left in the third quarter pushed the Wildcats’ advantage to eight points, leading 39-31, and C-Falls was never seriously threatened after that.
Trevor Houston’s scoring drive to the basket put Columbia Falls on top, 48-37, with just a little more than five minutes remaining.
The Cats enjoyed another banner night at the free-throw line, hitting 19 of 25 shots. Ty Morgan connected on 7 of 8 to finish with 14 points. Alex Presnell followed with 11 points.
“Let our ballhandlers and free-throw shooters take over (in the fourth quarter),” Finberg said of the strategy in the last eight minutes. “At the end of third quarter, I felt like we were in control.”
Dillon’s Troy Scott led all scorers with 19 points. Most of those points came from the free throw line, where he was 12 of 13.
The title matchup for the two Class A powers was the third since 2009. Columbia Falls won the 2011 contest against the Beavers. Dillon won the next title game in 2012 against Columbia Falls, but Dillon did not advance to state last year.
This marked the sixth straight year Columbia Falls has claimed a state trophy. The Wildcats finished third last year and in 2010. C-Falls closes the season with an eight-game winning streak.
“I’m very proud of this group,” Finberg said. “I felt confident going in. With the way we had improved the last month and with the way were playing, if we just did what we have been doing we would win.”
Finberg cited a huge defensive effort from Wildcat Grant Stenger, a 6-foot-6 junior forward who blocked four shots and had six rebounds, four on the defensive end.
“He controlled the inside,” Finberg said. “His presence in there was a huge reason we won tonight.”
Dillon 14 12 11 10 — 47
C-Falls 16 15 12 13 — 56
Dillon — Chance Kluesner 1-3 0-0 2, Trae Williams 0-2 1-2 1, J.D. Ferris 0-3 2-4 2, Parker Love 2-3 0-0 6, Nate Simkins 1-5 0-1 3, Justin Ferris 0-5 2-2 2, Troy Scott 3-14 12-13 19, Tanner Haverfield 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Ferris 1-3 4-6 6, Brady Richardson 3-4 0-1 6. Totals: 11-43 21-29 47.
Columbia Falls — Alex Presnell 4-7 0-1 11, Trevor Houston 1-1 0-0 2, Grant Stenger 1-2 1-1 3, Jayce Fagerland 2-5 3-4 9, Austin Kimmet 1-2 3-4 6, Nakia Alexander 0-1 2-2 2, Ty Morgan 3-6 7-8 14, Mason Gedlaman 0-0 0-2 0, Jared Trinastich 3-4 3-3 9, Grant Wallace 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-29 19-25 56.
Total fouls -- DIL 21, CF 20. Fouled out -- Trinastich. 3-point goals -- DIL 4-23 (Kluesner 0-2, Williams 0-1, JD Ferris 0-1, Love 2-3, Simkins 1-3, Ju. Ferris 0-4, Scott 1-9), CF 7-10 (Presnell 3-4, Fagerland 2-3, Kimmet 1-1, Morgan 1-2). Rebounds -- DIL 26 (Scott 6), CF 24 (Stenger 6). Assists -- DIL 9 (JD Ferris 3), CF 10 (Presnell 2, Houston 2, Wallace 2). Steals -- DIL 9 (J.D. Ferris 2, Ja. Ferris 2), CF 10 (Stenger 4). Blocks -- DIL 0, CF 4 (four with two each). Turnovers -- DIL 16, CF 20.
Third-place game
Laurel 13 10 13 11 — 47
Belgrade 17 8 6 9 — 40
LAUREL – Dylan Meccage 1-2 1-2 3, Tyler Thompson 1-5 0-0 2, Taylor Maida 5-10 0-0 11, Cooper Love 2-2 0-0 5, Evan Jones 5-16 6-8 16, Zac Allen 2-7 6-11 10, Keegan Reilly 0-0 0-0 0, Quinton Holmlund, 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Schumacher 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall Simanton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-42 13-21.
BELGRADE – Trevor Mahn 4-12 5-10 16, Brayden Konkol 2-4 0-0 4, Brandon Stubbs 0-1 0-0 0, Koby Ruff 0-4 0-0 0, Shiloh Christopher 5-8 0-0 13, Keldon Lamb 1-1 0-0 3, Morgan Eitel 0-1 0-0 0, Daniel Tanascu 1-2 0-0 2, Baxter Roys 1-1 0-0 2, Ethan Turner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-34 5-10.
3-point goals – Laurel 2-12 (Meccage 0-1, Thompson 0-2, Maida 1-5, Love 1-1, Jones 0-3), Belgrade 7-16 (Mahn 3-7, Stubbs 0-1, Ruff 0-2, Christopher 3-5, Lamb 1-1). Rebounds – Laurel 25 (Allen 8); Belgrade 26 (Mahn 7). Assists – Laurel 7 (Thompson 3); Belgrade 13 (Ruff 10). Total fouls – Laurel 12, Belgrade 21. Fouled out – Turner. Steals – Laurel 8 (Jones 2); Belgrade 4 (Mahn 3). Blocks – Laurel 2 (Allen 2). Turnovers – Laurel 10 (Jones 4); Belgrade 21 (Mahn 7).GREAT FALLS — Fourth-ranked Columbia Falls capped of the 2013-14 boys basketball season Saturday night by downing top-ranked Dillon 56-47 in the Class A state championship game at Four Seasons Arena.