Cats squeak win over Pirates

It was a tale of two squeakers. One went their way, the other did not, as the Columbia Falls boys basketball team split the bill last week at home.

The Wildcats lost to Class B Bigfork 58-56 on Feb. 5 but beat conference foe Polson 62-59 in the closing seconds on Feb. 7.

Against the Vikings, the Cats had a chance to tie or win the game several times but fell short. Their best chance to tie came with about eight seconds left when Tyler Murphy was fouled under the basket as Bigfork clung to a 58-56 lead.

But Murphy, who had a good game up to that point, missed both free throws. The Cats fouled the Vikes on the next possession, and Bigfork missed both free throws. With three seconds left, Ty Morgan heaved up a desperation trey, but the shot missed the mark.

Against Polson, the Pirates had a hot night shooting from behind the three-point arc, scoring 11 treys in the game. But the Cats hung tough, and Grant Wallace made two key free throws with 43 seconds left to tie the game at 59.

The Pirates got the ball back but couldn’t score. With time winding down, Morgan heaved up a trey and was fouled on the shot. He made all three free throws with 2.6 seconds left to put the Cats up. Polson was unable to score and the game ended.

Wallace had his best game of the year against the Pirates with 18 points. Against Bigfork, Morgan led the team with 17.

The Pirates are much improved and could be troublesome come tournament time, despite their 1-4 conference record.

Coach Cary Finberg is concerned about the boys’ play.

“We kind of played the same way we played the week before against Eureka,” he said.

The team isn’t sharing the ball like it should, and defensively, there were just too many breakdowns in both games, he noted.

“We’re almost asking for trouble,” he said.

On the plus side, the Cats shot 15 of 16 from the free throw line against Polson, which was the difference.

The Cats are 13-3 overall and 6-0 in conference play. They face Whitefish away this Saturday. Game time is 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys.

“Hopefully we get out of what’s ailing us,” Finberg said.

It was a tale of two squeakers. One went their way, the other did not, as the Columbia Falls boys basketball team split the bill last week at home.

The Wildcats lost to Class B Bigfork 58-56 on Feb. 5 but beat conference foe Polson 62-59 in the closing seconds on Feb. 7.

Against the Vikings, the Cats had a chance to tie or win the game several times but fell short. Their best chance to tie came with about eight seconds left when Tyler Murphy was fouled under the basket as Bigfork clung to a 58-56 lead.

But Murphy, who had a good game up to that point, missed both free throws. The Cats fouled the Vikes on the next possession, and Bigfork missed both free throws. With three seconds left, Ty Morgan heaved up a desperation trey, but the shot missed the mark.

Against Polson, the Pirates had a hot night shooting from behind the three-point arc, scoring 11 treys in the game. But the Cats hung tough, and Grant Wallace made two key free throws with 43 seconds left to tie the game at 59.

The Pirates got the ball back but couldn’t score. With time winding down, Morgan heaved up a trey and was fouled on the shot. He made all three free throws with 2.6 seconds left to put the Cats up. Polson was unable to score and the game ended.

Wallace had his best game of the year against the Pirates with 18 points. Against Bigfork, Morgan led the team with 17.

The Pirates are much improved and could be troublesome come tournament time, despite their 1-4 conference record.

Coach Cary Finberg is concerned about the boys’ play.

“We kind of played the same way we played the week before against Eureka,” he said.

The team isn’t sharing the ball like it should, and defensively, there were just too many breakdowns in both games, he noted.

“We’re almost asking for trouble,” he said.

On the plus side, the Cats shot 15 of 16 from the free throw line against Polson, which was the difference.

The Cats are 13-3 overall and 6-0 in conference play. They face Whitefish away this Saturday. Game time is 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys.

“Hopefully we get out of what’s ailing us,” Finberg said.