Getts, Howell lead Cats past Glacier, 71-69

Senior leadership is invaluable to a basketball team, and Columbia Falls got it during Friday’s boys game against Class AA Glacier. It also helps to make your foul shots.

Grant Getts sank two free throws with 13 seconds remaining, propelling the Wildcats to a thrilling 71-69 victory over the Wolfpack at Larry Schmaus Memorial Court in Columbia Falls. The Wildcats converted 21 of 24 free throws, and were 10-for-14 from the field in the second half.

Holding former conference foe Eureka to seven points in the first half, the Wildcats raced to a 40-7 halftime lead and posted a 69-40 win Thursday night at CFHS.

Logan Quay of Glacier scored on a follow shot to tie the game at 69-all with just under a minute to play. The Wildcats ran the clock down to 24 seconds and took a time-out to set up options for a final shot. Getts took a great pass from Kyle Howell and was fouled on a shot in the lane with :13 to go. Getts, who was 13-for-14 from the free throw line on the evening and scored 23 points, swished both charities.

Glacier had plenty of time to respond, but the Wildcats — with only five team fouls — had a foul to give. Mackey Nolan fouled Ben Cutler, who had already scored 27 points, with 5 seconds left. After a Glacier time-out, senior Josh Doty was wide open for a 14-footer in the lane. But his shot was off the mark, and the Cats had the rebound and the win.

“It was a fun game to be part of,” Cats head coach Cary Finberg said. “It was a well-played game … Offensively we executed very well. We took good shots. We were efficient from the field and from the (foul) line.”

Cutler, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, was a terror early — scoring 15 of the Wolfpack’s 19 first-period points.

A long 3-pointer by Michael Williams gave CFHS a 36-33 halftime lead.

The Cats led by six, but the Wolfpack came back to lead 56-55 with a period to play. A field goal by Mitchell Wassam inside allowed the Cats to hold a 69-65 lead, but two free throws by Shay Smithwick-Hann and Quay’s follow shot tied the contest.

Finberg had praise for Getts.

“He was aggressive,” Finberg said. “Our kids did a good job of getting him the ball.”

Getts was 5-for-7 from the field.

For the game, CFHS shot 61 percent from the field. The Cats had 15 turnovers, and Glacier had nine. Glacier, which had 58 field goal attempts to the Cats’ 36, was 11-for-14 from the foul line.

Glacier had 13 offensive rebounds and outboarded the Cats, 23-18.

Howell turned in his best offensive game of the season, hitting three 3-pointers and netting 17 points. He was 6-for-7 from the field, led in rebounds with seven and had three assists — and no turnovers.

Point guard Nolan dished out 11 assists for the Cats.

EUREKA TURNED THE ball over seven times before they scored, as CFHS mounted an early 12-0 lead.

The Cats took the ball inside early and often, leading 18-3 after one period on a putback by Triplett.

Williams had a hot hand from behind the 3-point arc in the second period, connecting on three treys. A steal and layup by Mackey Nolan, Kaleb Johnson’s follow shot and an Austin Robbins baseline jumper pushed the Cats’ lead to 38-5. A move to the hoop by Robbins gave CFHS a 40-7 lead at intermission.

The Cats’ lead was as large as 35 in the third period, where Eureka’s offense finally got going.

“We played a good first half,” Finberg said. “A lot of kids contributed.”

Eleven players scored for the Cats, led by Getts’ 12 points. Williams added 10.

Getts and Johnson each had six rebounds. Nolan had five assists. Howell added four assists and had no turnovers.

CFHS outrebounded Eureka, 38-20.

After going scoreless the first half, Eureka senior guard Ben Dechart netted 18 points during the final two quarters.

EUREKA (40)

Marcus Pluid 2 0-1 4, Ben Dechart 7 1-4 18, Andrew Sanders 2 0-0 4, Ryan Holder 3 6-8 12, Tanner Peterson 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 7-13 40.

COLUMBIA FALLS (69)

Kyle Howell 3 1-1 8, Tanner Barth 0 0-0 0, Matt Triplett 3 0-2 6, Josiah Begay 0 3-4 3, Nick Emerson 1 0-0 2, Mackey Nolan 3 0-0 6, Austin Robbins 2 2-4 6, Austin Barth 2 0-2 4, Mitchell Wassam 3 2-3 8, Kaleb Johnson 2 0-0 4, Grant Getts 5 2-3 12, Michael Williams 3 1-2 10. Totals 27 11-21 69.

Eureka      3      4    17    16 — 40

Columbia Falls    18    22    15    14 — 69

3-point goals: Dechart 3; Howell, Williams 3. Total fouls: Eureka 17, Columbia Falls 17. Fouled out: Pluid.

GLACIER (69)

Josh Doty 4 0-0 11, Connor Fuller 2 1-1 6, Colter Hanson 1 0-0 2, Shay Smithwick-Hamm 4 5-7 13, Kramer Wilson 4 0-0 8, Ben Cutler 9 5-6 27, Chad Gassaway 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 11-14 69.

COLUMBIA FALLS (71)

Howell 6 2-2 17, Triplett 1 0-0 3, Nolan 1 2-2 4, Robbins 2 2-2 6, Wassam 4 1-2 9, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Getts 5 13-14 23, Williams 2 1-2 7. Totals 25 21-24 71.

Glacier    19    14    23    13 — 69

Columbia Falls    16    20    19    16 — 71

3-point goals:  Doty 3, Fuller, Cutler 2; Howell 3, Triplett, Williams 2. Total fouls: Glacier 16, Columbia Falls 12. Fouled out: none.