Cats and Kats end season with perfect conference records

The Columbia Falls girls and boys basketball teams both ended their regular seasons perfect in conference play at 8-0. The Wilkats beat the Lady Loggers 70-45, and the Wildcats beat the Loggers 76-30 away on Feb. 21.

Peyton Kehr had her best game of the season for the Kats, coming off the bench to score 24 points. Ciera Finberg had 12 and Kiara Burlage had 14.

The Lady Loggers stuck with the Kats in the first quarter, as the score was at 14 apiece. But the Kats had an eight-point lead by the half and outscored Libby 39-23 in the second half.

“We knew they’d give us their best shot,” said coach Cary Finberg. He said it was good to see the girls withstand Libby’s push and still win by a comfortable margin.

The Kats out rebounded the Lady Loggers 35-20 and were 16 for 18 from the free throw line. Kehr had five rebounds and four steals to go with her scoring. Burlage also had eight rebounds and Winter Kemppainen had 14.

On the boys side, the Cats jumped out to a 24-5 advantage in the first stanza and never let up. Ty Morgan led the charge with 20 points, followed by Grant Wallace with 11, Tyler Murphy with 12 and Jayce Fagerland with 10. Morgan also had seven rebounds and seven steals. Trevor Houston had seven assists and just one turnover at the point.

Finberg is pleased with the way the team has been sharing the ball the past couple of games, playing inside-out. The boys shot 68 percent against Libby.

“They’re making the extra pass,” he said.

Also, players who aren’t scoring are contributing. Grant Stenger against Whitefish two weeks ago had 10 blocks and 10 rebounds.

Both teams secured conference crowns and will have first-round byes in the divisional tournament this weekend in Whitefish.

The Cats will play Friday at 3 p.m., taking on the winner of the Frenchtown-Libby game. The Kats will play Friday at 6 p.m., taking on the winner of the Polson-Whitefish game.

Overall, the Cats capped off the regular season at 15-3. The Kats are 17-1.

If both teams win in the semifinals, the championship round on Saturday is 6 p.m. for the Cats and 7:30 p.m. for the Kats.

All-tourney passes cost $20. Day session tickets cost $10 for adults and students on Friday and Saturday afternoon. Session tickets are sold each day from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets sold after 7 p.m. cost $6 for adults and $5 for students. A morning session ticket costs $6 for adults and $5 for students.

 

Columbia Falls 14 16 19 21 — 70

Libby 14 8 9 14 — 45

COLUMBIA FALLS — Ciera Finberg 12, Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 6, Ellie Johnson 3, Peyton Kehr 22, Winter Kemppainen 9, Miranda Livingston 2, Kiara Burlage 14.

LIBBY — Abby Ennenga 6, Hailey Craig 9, Shyla Stevenson 2, Hailley Moe 10, Shannon Reny 7, Devon Gallagher 4, Dayln Germany 7.

 

Columbia Falls 24 23 14 15 — 76

Libby 5 10 6 9 — 30

COLUMBIA FALLS — Nathan Riley 3 0-0 8, Glenn Morden 1 0-0 3, Grant Stenger 8, Jayce Fagerland 10, Tyler Murphy 12, Ty Morgan 20, Logan Williams 4, Grant Wallace 11.

LIBBY — Luke Adamson 3, Jonny Cielak 13, Collin Johnson 2, Isaak Jones 3, Zander Petersen 2, Erik Lauer 1, Michael Curtiss 6.

The Columbia Falls girls and boys basketball teams both ended their regular seasons perfect in conference play at 8-0. The Wilkats beat the Lady Loggers 70-45, and the Wildcats beat the Loggers 76-30 away on Feb. 21.

Peyton Kehr had her best game of the season for the Kats, coming off the bench to score 24 points. Ciera Finberg had 12 and Kiara Burlage had 14.

The Lady Loggers stuck with the Kats in the first quarter, as the score was at 14 apiece. But the Kats had an eight-point lead by the half and outscored Libby 39-23 in the second half.

“We knew they’d give us their best shot,” said coach Cary Finberg. He said it was good to see the girls withstand Libby’s push and still win by a comfortable margin.

The Kats out rebounded the Lady Loggers 35-20 and were 16 for 18 from the free throw line. Kehr had five rebounds and four steals to go with her scoring. Burlage also had eight rebounds and Winter Kemppainen had 14.

On the boys side, the Cats jumped out to a 24-5 advantage in the first stanza and never let up. Ty Morgan led the charge with 20 points, followed by Grant Wallace with 11, Tyler Murphy with 12 and Jayce Fagerland with 10. Morgan also had seven rebounds and seven steals. Trevor Houston had seven assists and just one turnover at the point.

Finberg is pleased with the way the team has been sharing the ball the past couple of games, playing inside-out. The boys shot 68 percent against Libby.

“They’re making the extra pass,” he said.

Also, players who aren’t scoring are contributing. Grant Stenger against Whitefish two weeks ago had 10 blocks and 10 rebounds.

Both teams secured conference crowns and will have first-round byes in the divisional tournament this weekend in Whitefish.

The Cats will play Friday at 3 p.m., taking on the winner of the Frenchtown-Libby game. The Kats will play Friday at 6 p.m., taking on the winner of the Polson-Whitefish game.

Overall, the Cats capped off the regular season at 15-3. The Kats are 17-1.

If both teams win in the semifinals, the championship round on Saturday is 6 p.m. for the Cats and 7:30 p.m. for the Kats.

All-tourney passes cost $20. Day session tickets cost $10 for adults and students on Friday and Saturday afternoon. Session tickets are sold each day from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets sold after 7 p.m. cost $6 for adults and $5 for students. A morning session ticket costs $6 for adults and $5 for students.

Columbia Falls 14 16 19 21 — 70

Libby 14 8 9 14 — 45

COLUMBIA FALLS — Ciera Finberg 12, Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 6, Ellie Johnson 3, Peyton Kehr 22, Winter Kemppainen 9, Miranda Livingston 2, Kiara Burlage 14.

LIBBY — Abby Ennenga 6, Hailey Craig 9, Shyla Stevenson 2, Hailley Moe 10, Shannon Reny 7, Devon Gallagher 4, Dayln Germany 7.

Columbia Falls 24 23 14 15 — 76

Libby 5 10 6 9 — 30

COLUMBIA FALLS — Nathan Riley 3 0-0 8, Glenn Morden 1 0-0 3, Grant Stenger 8, Jayce Fagerland 10, Tyler Murphy 12, Ty Morgan 20, Logan Williams 4, Grant Wallace 11.

LIBBY — Luke Adamson 3, Jonny Cielak 13, Collin Johnson 2, Isaak Jones 3, Zander Petersen 2, Erik Lauer 1, Michael Curtiss 6.