Wildcats win in Stevensville, fall at home to Flathead
Quintin Shriver looks to pass to an open teammate as the Wildcats took on Flathead Saturday. Shriver finished with five points. (Jeremy Weber photo)
L.J. Panasuk goes up for two of his 12 points against Flathead Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Billy Barrett goes up for a running jumper against the Braves. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Austin Green drives the baseline against the Braves. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Matt Morrison looks to pass to a teammate against Flathead. (Jeremy Weber photo)
L.J. Panasuk drives inside against Flathead. (Jeremy Weber photo)
L.J. Panasuk goes in for a layup against Flathead. (Jeremy Weber photo)
L.J. Panasuk goes in for a layup against Flathead. (Jeremy Weber photo)
L.J. Panasuk goes up for a shot against Flathead. (Jeremy Weber photo)
L.J. Panasuk goes up for a shot against Flathead. (Jeremy Weber photo)
It was an up and down week for the Wildcats as they picked up their first win of the season on the road at Stevensville Thursday before falling at home to Flathead Saturday.
The Wildcats jumped out to a commanding first-quarter lead in Stevensville Thursday en route to a 48-32 victory. Head coach Chris Finberg said defense was key in the win.
“We were defending well and it was leading to easy offensive opportunities for us. We forced some turnovers and we were also rebounding well, and that gave us some fast break opportunities,” he said. “We would like to have extended that lead a little more, but we played well and got the win.”
Columbia Falls jumped out to a 19-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game and led 21-7 after eight minutes of play. The Wildcats maintained the lead throughout the contest as they cruised to the victory.
Matt Morrison led the Wildcats with 14 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks in the win while Drew Morgan added 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Quintin Shiver had nine points, five steals, three assists, three rebounds and a blocked shot, L.J. Panasuk scored six and Logan Bechtel and Austin Green each scored four.
The second quarter was the difference Saturday as the Wildcats fell at home to AA Flathead, 69-46.
The Wildcats trailed by only three after one quarter of play, but the Braves went on a 15-0 run and outscored Columbia Falls 26-9 in the second quarter to grab a 43-23 lead at the half.
“They shot well in the second quarter, but it seemed like their run deflated us. I did not like the way we responded to that,” Finberg said. “I would like to have seen a little more fire from our guys.”
The Wildcats were unable to cut into the Flathead lead in the second half as the Braves picked up the win.
Panasuk and Green led the Wildcat effort with 12 points each while Shriver and Bechtel each scored five, Billy Barrett and Morrison added four each and Morgan and Zack Pletcher both scored two.
The Wildcats will be on the road at Bigfork Thursday before opening conference play against Ronan at home Friday.
Game times in Ronan have been changed as the froshmore game will start at 1 p.m., the JV will play at 2:30 and the varsity will play at 4 p.m.