Cats pull out win over Lions

A big fourth-quarter scoring spurt helped the Columbia Falls boys basketball team down Class B Eureka 55-45 away on Jan. 30.

The Wildats held a one-point lead at the break, 24-23, but outscored the Lions 31-22 in the second half, including 17 points in the fourth quarter to pull away.

The Cats were led by Ty Morgan with 21, Grant Wallace with 10 and Jayce Fagerland with 8. Morgan went 6-for-6 from the foul line in the fourth.

Coach Cary Finberg wasn’t happy with the game, even in the win.

“I was disappointed in our execution and not being ready to play,” he said. The defense missed assignments and the offensive shot just 33 percent, including going just 4 for 23 from beyond the three-point line. Finberg said they rarely took the ball inside and when they did, it wasn’t aggressive enough. On a brighter note, he said guards Glenn Morden and Nathan Riley came off the bench to give the team some energy.

The Cats face Bigfork at home Thursday night and host Polson on Saturday. The Bigfork game should be a good one, as the Vikings, ranked tops in Class B, will look to avenge a loss to the Cats earlier this season. Game times are 6 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. respectively.

“Bigfork willl be looking for revenge,” Finberg said. “The boys wil be up to the challenge.”

C. Falls 13 11 14 17 – 55

Eureka 12 11 10 12 – 45

COLUMBIA FALLS – Nathan Riley 2, Trevor Houston 4, Glenn Morden 3, Grant Stenger 3, Jayce Fagerland 8, Ty Morgan 21, Logan Williams 4, Grant Wallace 10.

EUREKA – Brandon Conard 2, Trey Bohne 10, Michael Peterson 12, Chase Bohne 19, Braden Thier 2.