Wildkats drop matchup to Browning, defeat Polson
Teagan Borgen takes a shot for the Wildkats against the Lady Indians Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Left to right, assistant coach Ciera Finberg, Wildkat Madison Yerian, coach Cary Finberg and assistant coach Cydney Finberg-Roberts celebrate the coach’s last home game after a 28-season career at Columbia Falls High School Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Demye Rensel takes a free throw for the Wildkats Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe)
Hope McAtee looks to make a pass playing Browning on Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Senior Ellie Stutsman makes a layup for the Wildkats Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Wildkat Maddie Moultray is greeted by fans for Senior Night Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Columbia Falls fell to Browning 49-36 on Friday, Feb. 9 in a Northwest A conference matchup.
“The Browning game was a bit of a setback,” Columbia Falls Head Coach Cary Finberg said. “Beyond that though, it feels like we are playing a lot better. In the Browning game, we just had too many turnovers and got outrebounded in the first half 30-20 against a good team.”
Columbia Falls is all but guaranteed third place in Northwest A. They played a weather makeup game against Libby on Tuesday before turning their focus to the Western A tournament Feb. 22-24 in Butte.
“It’s probably beneficial not to be in the play-in games, and it’s tough with a higher seed to take two weeks off between two teams, “Finberg commented.
A big, late surge by Columbia Falls pushed them past Polson 52-40 in Northwest A conference action on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
The Wildkats outscored the Lady Pirates 21-8 in the final quarter, lifting them to their fourth straight win. Onnika Lawrence led Columbia Falls with 19 points, a career-high scoring performance to go along with five steals, while Hope McAtee had 14.
“I thought we got an early lead and let up a bit,” Finberg said. “Polson was able to knock down some threes and we could not hit a shot in third. Then our defense got going.”
Finberg said his team refocused on playing defense which turned into turnovers and easy defensive layups to get the offense going in the fourth.
Columbia Falls led 25-21 at halftime, but Polson battled back for a 32-31 lead in the third quarter.
Taryn Borgen added 12 points to the Wildkats efforts.
At Polson
COLUMBIA FALLS 52, POLSON 40
C-Falls - 14 - 11 - 6 - 21 - 52
Polson - 8 -13 - 11 - 8 - 40
COLUMBIA FALLS SCORING - Onnika Lawrence 19, Hope McAtee 14, Taryn Borgen 12, Emalee Alton 4, Kierra Kemppainen 3
At Columbia Falls
BROWNING 49, COLUMBIA FALLS 36
Browning - 12 - 14 - 15 - 8 - 49
C-Falls - 7 - 5 - 8 - 16 - 36
Left to right, assistant coach Ciera Finberg, Wildkat Madison Yerian, coach Cary Finberg and assistant coach Cydney Finberg-Roberts celebrate the coach’s last home game after a 28-season career at Columbia Falls High School Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Demye Rensel takes a free throw for the Wildkats Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe)
Hope McAtee looks to make a pass playing Browning on Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Senior Ellie Stutsman makes a layup for the Wildkats Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)
Wildkat Maddie Moultray is greeted by fans for Senior Night Friday, Feb. 9. (Avery Howe photo)