Boys are Butte bound - again
<p>Wildcat Anthony Correa puts up a shot against the Bulldogs.</p>
The Columbia Falls boys basketball team clobbered both Polson and Whitefish last week to take their fourth Northwest A divisional title in a row.
On Feb. 24, the Wildcats hammered Polson 52-36, and the next night they overran Whitefish 66-40 for the title in their home gym.
Coach Cary Finberg credited a total team effort for setting up both victories.
“They played unbelievable team basketball — offensively and defensively,” he said. “I don’t think Polson or Whitefish scored in the first four minutes of each game.”
The Cats roared out of the gates in both games, building a 11-2 lead in the first quarter against Polson and a 14-4 lead against the Bulldogs.
Against Whitefish, the Cats controlled the offensive boards, pulling down 17 offensive rebounds to Whitefish’s five. The Cats also had just six turnovers to the Bulldogs’ 15.
Anthony Correa led the scoring against Whitefish with 15, including 12 in the second half. Austin Barth had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Jared Trinastich had 10 points and eight boards. Parker Johnson scored 12 points, and Luke Kazlauskas had nine points and several back-breaking steals.
Brian Marcille had three treys against Polson, and Ronny Gallegos had his best two games of the season at point guard, with no turnovers against Whitefish. Alex Presnell came off the bench against the Bulldogs and racked up four points and four assists.
“Everyone contributed in some way,” Finberg said.
The Cats (17-3) have now won 12 games in a row and will look to continue the run through the state tournament.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to get to state and get better everyday,” Finberg said. “Now we have a new goal — win Thursday night.”
The Cats face Stevensville in the opening game, the only Class A team to beat them this year. The Yellowjackets beat the Cats in the second game of the season.
But the Wildcat team is far different than it was then — they’re playing much better defensively and have gelled as a squad.
“If we continue to play like we have been … I like our chances,” Finberg said.
The boys won the state Class A title last year, beating Dillon 55-43. This year, Dillon is on the other side of the bracket as the top seed from the Southwest.
It could be another showdown and wouldn’t that be fun.