Boys go 1-1 on the week, lose to Broncs, beat Braves

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team split last week. On Dec. 19, they dropped a game to conference foe Frenchtown, 62-59, but they rallied to beat Flathead at home two days later, 43-42.

Against Frenchtown, the Wildcats had a 14-point lead at one point, but the Broncs scored 21 in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth, while the Cats could only muster nine fourth-quarter points. The Cats were led by Ty Morgan with 13.

Frenchtown’s John Chapman and Andrew Honken had 18 and 19 points respectively. Chapman hit a trey with about 30 seconds left in the game to give the Broncs the lead.

Against Flathead, the Cats rallied after falling behind 17-12 after the first quarter. They were down by just one by the half, and they took the lead 28-26 with 4:52 left in the third.

But the Cats only scored six points in the fourth. The Braves made it interesting in the end, dropping a trey with about 4 second left, but they weren’t able to foul the Cats fast enough on the ensuing inbounds play and time expired.

The Cats were led by Alex Presnell with 10 points. Nakia Alexander came off the bench with a good game, scoring nine in what was a physical game. Mason Gedlaman came off the bench too and had 10 rebounds, as big man Jared Trinastich was in foul trouble. The Cats played small, usually running three guards — Presnell, Ty Morgan and Alexander or Trevor Houston on the floor.

Coach Cary Finberg said the team has to rebound the ball better and share the ball better if it’s going to have long-term success. In the Flathead game, the Cats only had six assists.

Still, they outplayed the physical Braves.

“After the first quarter, we played pretty good basketball,” he said.

Defensively, the Cats held the Braves to a 32.7 percent field goal percentage.

The boys are on the road against Eureka Jan. 3.

Col. Falls 21 13 16 9 - 59

Frenchtown 10 14 21 17 - 62

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 10, Trevor Houston 6, Austin Kimmet 7, Nakia Alexander 6, Ty Morgan 13, Mason Gedlaman 4, Jared Trinastich 11, Grant Wallace 2.

FRENCHTOWN - John Chapman 18, Chris Delaney 10, Andrew Honken 19, Bridger Truett 8, Levi Lind 1, Jordan Moe 4, Bobby Erbaugh 2.

Flathead 17 6 7 12 - 42

Columbia Falls 12 10 15 6 - 43

FLATHEAD - Blaine Newman 11, Tommie Owens 2, Chandler Escalante 4, Trae Habel 4, Keaton Krantz 2, Adam Bradley 6, Matt Quist 13.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 10, Trevor Houston 5, Austin Kimmet 6, Nakia Alexander 9, Ty Morgan 6, Mason Gedlaman 5, Jared Trinastich 2.