Cats win thriller over Browning
Reggie Sapa's shot with 32.7 second left put the Cats up for the first time in the game.
The Columbia Falls boys basketball team walloped Polson on the road last week, 75-46, then won a classic at home against Browning Friday night, 55-53 in a game where they didn’t have a lead until there was just a few seconds left.
Against the Pirates, Cooper Ross came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with 20. The game was a very balanced attack for the Cats, as 12 players got into the scoring column.
The Cats shot 46% from the three-point line, while they shot 50% on twos.
Against Browning the Cats had a tough time dealing with the Indians’ press, with 25 turnovers.
They also shot just 23% from beyond the arc and 46% from the field. At times, it seemed like there was a lid on the basket as shots rimmed out.
Senior Reggie Sapa led the team with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. He hit a key basket that put the Cats up with about 30 seconds left, 51-50 and then hit two free throws to put the Cats up on their next possession, 53-50.
Browning would knock down a trey to tie it with a little over 10 seconds left, but Easton Brooks scored on a layup to put the Cats up 55-53 with 6 seconds left and Browning’s last second trey attempt was off the mark to win it.
From a few minutes into the first quarter to deep into the third, the Cats missed 19 straight threes, but they hit five of their last nine, coach Chris Finberg noted.
The key in the win was the Cats out-rebounded Browning, who had an overall height advantage, 38-24. They also shot better than the Indians from the free throw line.
Sapa’s effort, to be sure, kept them in the contest.
“He played much bigger than his size,” coach Chris Finberg said. “He played like a man.”
Against Polson the squad was simply solid from start to finish, Finberg noted. They had just 11 turnovers.
A game against Ronan was snowed out Tuesday and has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday at home.
The boys are now 10-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
Browning 18 8 16 11 - 53
C-Falls 11 11 14 19 - 55
BROWNING — Jude Reevis 13, Noah Butterfly 5, Royce Mad Plume 6, Ray Mad Plume 2, Josh Skunkcap 7, Rodale Dog Taking Gun 2, Shayde St. Goddard 8, Tristan Crawford 10.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Easton Brooks 6, Jory Hill 9, Bjorn Pedersen 7, Reggie Sapa 14, Nico Young 3, Grady Hutton 10, Silas Ypma 6.