Cats split the bill, get key conference win

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team picked up a key conference win against Frenchtown at home last week. They dropped the Broncs 70-30 in a blowout home game Jan. 25, bouncing back from a 47-41 loss away against Flathead two days earlier.

The win over Frenchtown (3-1) gave the Wildcats a tie for first in the conference with the Broncs.

The Cats (3-1, 8-3) were led by the hot hand of Alex Presnell, who had 20 points, and Jayce Fagerland, who went 5-for-5 behind the three-point arc to score 15.

The win against the Broncs avenged an earlier season loss, where Frenchtown came back from a 16-point deficit to win. There would be none of that this time. The boys are playing much better defense as of late and held Frenchtown’s John Chapman, who averages nearly 25 points a game, to just six.

“Defensively, we played solid again for four quarters,” coach Cary Finberg said.

The offense was also clicking, as Presnell was aggressive toward the basket, and the team did a good job of sharing the ball and getting open looks.

The Cats needed it after a dismal first-half performance against the Braves, where they scored only 11 points in the entire first half, shooting just 21 percent from the field.

“Credit Flathead’s defense,” Finberg said.

Even in that game, the Cats’ defense kept them in the game. They rallied in the second half and were down by four with 12 seconds left. A trey by Nakia Alexander appeared to drop in to cut the Braves’ lead to just one, but the referees waved off the basket, saying the ball hit a wire on the backboard.

Finberg was called for a technical after he argued the call, and Flathead sealed the win. Watching the film later confirmed his opinion — the ball didn’t hit the wire, Finberg said.

Jared Trinastich has been playing excellent basketball in the post the past month. He had 15 points and 10 rebounds against the Braves and 14 points and nine rebounds against the Broncs. Grant Wallace, Austin Kimmet and Fagerland have also played well.

The boys face Class B Eureka at home Thursday and then travel to Libby on Saturday for a conference match-up against the Loggers.

Frenchtown 9 6 2 13 — 30

Columbia Falls 8 14 25 23 — 70

FRENCHTOWN — John Chapman 6, Quintin Mazzola 2, Andrew Honken 5, Bridger Truett 11, Jordan Moe 4, Bobby Erbaugh 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 20, Jayce Fagerland 15, Austin Kimmet 2, Nakia Alexander 3, Ty Morgan 5, Jackson Barta 3, Justice McManus 6, Mason Gedlaman 1, Jared Trinastich 14, Grant Wallace 1.

Columbia Falls 5 6 14 16 — 41

Flathead 12 10 7 18 — 47

COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 12, Ty Morgan 10, Jared Trinastich 15, Grant Wallace 4.

FLATHEAD — Alex Croymans 4, Blaine Newman 9, Easton Johnson 2, Will Cronk 6, Chandler Escalante 4, Trae Habel 4, Adam Bradley 4, Matt Quist 14.