Cats go 2-0 at Tip-off Tourney

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team hammered its southern competition at the Northwest-Southwest Class A basketball tournament last week.

The Wildcats clobbered Anaconda on Dec. 13 in their season opener 85-54. Alex Presnell scored 22 points to lead the Wildcats, Ty Morgan had 11, and Jared Trinastich had 10.

The Cats were 11 for 18 from beyond the three-point arc. Presnell was four-for-five on treys.

“We shot the ball very well,” coach Cary Finberg said.

Trinastich also did well on the boards, with 10 rebounds, and Justice McManus came off the bench with eight points and four boards.

“McManus did a good job for us,” Finberg said.

Against Hamilton, it was more of the same as the Cats beat the Broncs 76-44 the next day. This time, Morgan had 22 as he hit five treys in the first half to pace the Cats. Trinastich had 11 against the Broncs.

Finberg liked the way the team moved the ball, which opened up the offense. In both games, 10 Columbia Falls players got in the scoring column — a tribute to this team’s depth.

Presnell had six assists, and Trinastich, Trevor Houston and Morgan all had three assists apiece. Austin Kimmet had 11 rebounds to lead the team. Grant Wallace chipped in nine points and four boards.

The games were played at Polson and Ronan respectively.

The Cats open conference play Thursday away against conference foe Frenchtown. They’re home against the Flathead Braves on Saturday. The Flathead game has a 7 p.m. varsity start.

Finberg called Frenchtown game key.

“They’re a team we need to beat,” he said. “We can’t say we were 2-0 at the tip-off tournament and be satisfied.”

Hamilton 11 6 17 10 - 44

Columbia Falls 13 26 8 29 - 76

HAMILTON - Josh Heath 12, Tanner Lehr 5, Kris Cleveland 2, Ty Burt 4, Bret Huxtable 7, Kameran Kohn 14.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 6, Trevor Houston 5, Jayce Fagerland 5, Austin Kimmet 4, Nakia Alexander 4, Ty Morgan 22, Logan Williams 6, Justice McManus 4, Jared Trinastich 11, Grant Wallace 9.

C. Falls 20 28 20 17 - 85

Anaconda 13 9 14 18 - 54

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 22, Trevor Houston 9, Austin Kimmett 2, Nakia Alexander 7, Ty Morgan 11, Logan Williams 2, Justin McManus 8, Mason Gedleman 5, Jared Trinastich 10, Glenn Morden 6.

ANACONDA - Caleb Stetzner 9, Drew Conrady 11, Dennis Stanberry 3, Cory Stanberry 7, Bobby Duhame 2, Jackson Wagner 15, Brandon Fode 7.