Cats get their mojo back

Call him a good luck charm. On a night when barber and photographer Randy Bocksnick was an honorary assistant coach, the Columbia Falls Wildcats got their groove back and hammered the Whitefish Bulldogs, 68-44 last Saturday.

The Cats were led by 6-5 point guard Nick Emerson with 19. Austin Barth chipped in 11.

The game was tight at the half, 30-24, but Parker Johnson opened the third quarter with a long range trey and the Cats dominated on defense, holding the Bulldogs to just five points in the quarter.

The boys also had nine offensive rebounds in the third and out-rebounded the Dogs 40-23 in the game.

Kaleb Johnson led the team with nine.

On Friday the Cats dispatched Ronan 73-57. Emerson notched 20 in that win to lead the Cats.

“The things we were trying to focus on and get better at we did,” coach Cary Finberg said.

Bocksnick was thrilled to be a part of the team, he gave them a pep talk before the game and a rousing fist pump when Emerson threw down a dunk in the fourth quarter. Bocksnick has been photographing the team for more than 46 years and was recently named a “super fan” by the Montana High School Assocation.

Finberg and Bocksnick had talked about Bocksnick being an honorary coach last summer.

“He wanted an inside look (at coaching),” Finberg said. “He’s done a lot for Columbia Falls athletics. It was a way to repay him.”

Finberg named Emerson his player of the week. In addition to scoring 49 points over two games, he had eight rebounds against Whitefish, four assists and shot 53 percent from the field. Against Ronan, he shot 63 percent, was six-for-seven from the free-throw line and had six steals, six assists and six rebounds. He’s also been named a finalist for the Gatorade Montana State Player of the Year. If he’s selected, he would go on to be considered for national player of the year honors.

“He’s learned what we’re looking for from him. He’s turning into a complete player,” Finberg said.

The Cats face Polson in a rematch Friday night at home. The winner takes the regular season crown. Polson beat the Cats for their only loss this season.

“We need to play better,” Finberg said. “We can’t make the mistakes against them you can against other teams.”

Gametime is 7:30 p.m.

The Cats wrap up the regular season with an away game against Frenchtown Saturday.

Whitefish 7 17 5 15 - 44

Col. Falls 12 18 22 16 - 68

WHITEFISH - Mac Roche 8, Kyler Blades 5, Jose Sanchez 1, Gage Vasquez 10, Cooper Olson 9, Drew Galbraith 2, Alex Duroche 4, Peter Seymour 3, Jake May 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson 19, Chris King 5, Anthony Correa 7, Cale Vukonich 4, Parker Johnson 6, Austin Barth 11, Kaleb Johnson 14, Jacob Calderwood 2.

Col. Falls 19 19 16 19 - 73

Ronan 13 13 11 20 - 57

COLUMBIA FALLS - Devyn Rocker 8, Nick Emerson 20, Austin Barth 10, Ronny Gallegos 2, Chris King 7, Anthony Correa 4, Cale Vukonich 2, Parker Johnson 4, Luke Kazlowskas 1, Kaleb Johnson 11, Jacob Calderwood 4.

RONAN - J.J. Tanner 11, Lucas Black 2, Justin Dustybull 10, Kevin Wroblewski 11, Jackson Jore 4, Robbie Gouthier 3, Marcus Hungerford 3, Chris Clary 13.