Cats get Braves again, fall just short to Hellgate

Considering their competition, the Columbia Falls basketball team had another solid week, beating AA Flathead for the second time this year, 63-52, Thursday, and losing by a slim margin to Missoula Hellgate, 60-57, Friday.

The Cats are now 9-2 overall, 2-1 in conference. They wrap up the regular season this month with seven conference games in a row.

Drew Perry led the Cats against the Braves with 24 points, followed Kevin Boyer with 13, Anthony Minson with 12, J.D. Fields, seven, Justin Heinrichs, three, Jace Ladenburg, two, and Greg Macijunas, two. Minson had nine boards, Macijunas, seven, and Boyer, six.

Drew Perry also had a great performance.

"He probably had his most consistent game," said head coach cary Finberg.

The Cats had a seven-point lead at the half. The Braves cut the margin to one in the third quarter, but the Cats battled back with a trademark defensive effort and good free-throw shooting.

"I knew Kalispell would come out and play tougher against us," Finberg said. "Our kids responded well and did a great job, effort-wise."

That effort included going 19 for 26 from the line.

The free-throw shooting that helped them against the Braves failed them against Hellgate. The Cats went 5 for 13 from the line against the Knights, while Hellgate was 12 for 18 from the line in the fourth quarter alone.

The Knights took a three-point lead with about 35 seconds left, and the Cats could never cut the margin. A desperation heave with a second left didn't drop. Despite the loss, it was the best game in the Columbia Falls gym this season. No one ever really had control of the game.

"Hellgate is a quality team," Finberg said. "We turned the ball over, and they made their free throws at the end."

Both games can only make the team better, Finberg said.

"If we can play with these (AA teams), then the team should feel like they can compete with anybody," he said.

Against Hellgate, Fields had 13, Boyer, 13, Perry, nine, Minson, eight, Ladenburg, seven, Guy Smith, three, Heinrichs, two, and Macijunas, two. Minson had 10 boards, and Guy Smith had 10 boards.

Now the Cats face Bigfork at home tonight and then Ronan at home Friday. Next Tuesday night they'll face Whitefish away.

"We can take control of the conference this week if we want to," Finberg said.

The Cats ultimate goal is to go into the divisional tourney with a bye. Then they're just one win away from the championship game. Only the top two teams advance to state.

The frosh lost to Flathead 67-37 but beat Hellgate 50-48. The JV lost to Kalispell 61-50 but beat Hellgate 43-35.

Wildcats 63, Braves 52

Col Falls 13 18 14 18 63

Flathead 11 11 19 11 52

Hellgate 60, Wildcats 57

Col Falls 15 14 11 17 57

Hellgate 19 9 14 18 60