Cats falter at Western A tourney

The tournament started out with hope and promise, but then two lopsided losses put an end to the Columbia Falls boys basketball season at the Western A divisional tournament in Butte.

The Cats opened the tournament last Wednesday in the play-in game with a dramatic come-from-behind 48-40 overtime victory against Corvallis. Senior Tyler Murphy hit a three-pointer to force overtime and the team was solid from the free-throw line in the extra stanza in the victory.

But against Dillon the next day, the boys suffered a lopsided 69-28 loss to the Beavers and then they capped off the season with another poor performance on Friday, losing 72-52 against Whitefish in loser-out action. Nathan Riley led the Cats with 20 in the loss to Whitefish. The Cats had 18 turnovers against the Bulldogs, while Whitefish had 11.

Against Dillon, the Cats’ offense simply sputtered as they were outscored 25-6 in the third quarter.  

The boys finish the year at 4-17 overall under first-year coach John Anderson. 

C. Falls 10 7 6 5 — 28

Dillon 18 20 25 6 — 69

Columbia Falls – Nathan Riley 9, Austin Green 2, Matthew Morrison 4, Mason Tucker 3, Logan Stephens 1, Tyler Murphy 7, Steven DeCamp 2.

Dillon – Nate Simkins 11, Payton Lafrentz 2, Troy Andersen 7, Nick Huber 2, Tanner Haverfield 17, Carson Hritsco 4, Michael Haverfield 12, R.J. Fitzgerald 4, Logan Wilson 8, Clay Allison 2.

C. Falls 7 10 5 15 11 — 48

Corvallis 12 11 8 6 3 — 40

COLUMBIA FALLS — Tyler Murphy 9, Matt Morrison 9, Austin Green 8, Mason Tucker 8, Dakota Bridwell 5, Nathan Riley 3, Logan Stephens 2, Steven DeCamp 2, Quintin Schriver 2.

CORVALLIS — Chase Jessop 19, Jacob Geary 9, Caleb Powell 4, Spencer Jessop 3, Tylor Nixon 3, Dillon Lewis 2.

Whitefish 22 9 22 19 — 72

C. Falls 7 4 20 21 — 52

WHITEFISH — Derek Kastella 10, Jacob Henry 18, Matt Brewer 7, Luke May 9, Sawyer Siliker 17, Cole Ashby 1, Jansen anderson 2, James Sampson 1, Murphy Wick 1, Zander Wold 2, Max Smyley 4.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Nathan Riley 20, Austin Green 5, Tyler Murphy 10, Matthew Morrison 6, Kyler Burns 2, Steven DeCamp 5, Mason Tucker 4.