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Cats drop Vikes, but lose to Ronan on the road

| January 22, 2025 7:10 AM

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team split last week, losing to Ronan 75-60 on the road Thursday, but battling back to beat Bigfork on the road Saturday, 55-42.

The Wildcats used a balanced attack against the Vikings, with Grady Hutton leading the way with 13, including four treys. Bjorn Pederson had 12, Reggie Sapa 12 as well in the win.

The Cats used a balanced attack in the Bigfork win.

“We shot well and hit 10 threes,” coach Chris Finberg said. The Cats also played better defensively than they did at Ronan.

“We contested their shots pretty well,” Finberg said.

Against Ronan, the boys were outscored in every quarter. Pederson led the scoring with 18, while Cooper Ross came off the bench to score 13.

The Cats had a tough time taking care of the ball against the Chiefs, with 20 turnovers.

Ronan was also 17 of 22 from the free throw line and shot over 50% from beyond the arc.

“We just didn’t have the defensive intensity,” Finberg noted.

The Wildcats face Libby on the road Thursday and then are at home against Whitefish Friday. Gametime is 7:30 p.m.

The boys are 6-2 overall, 1-1 in conference as the team heads into the meat of the schedule.

Of their first nine games, they’ve had just one at home, so the Whitefish game should be a good one.

The Bulldogs are 3-3 on the season, but they have some good shooters, Finberg noted, so the Cats will have to play good defense, as going up against Whitefish is always a good rivalry game.

The Cats are now 6-2 on the year.

C-Falls    10    21    14    15    -    60     

Ronan    12    16    20    27    -    75 


COLUMBIA FALLS — Easton Brooks 2, Stanley Stremick 2, Jory Hill 7, Bjorn Pedersen 18, Reggie Sapa 2, Nico Young 6, Cooper Ross 13, Grady Hutton 8, Silas Ypma 2.  

RONAN — Tayen Edmo 9, Kolby Finley 11, Laurance Lozeau 18, Wade Qualtier 12, Sean Small 8, Jhett McDonald 8, Chad Higgins 2, Trey Samsel 4, Theodore Spotted Eagle 3.

C-Falls     15     12     15     13     -     55  

Bigfork     10     9     11     12     -     42  


COLUMBIA FALLS — Easton Brooks 3, Stanley Stremick 4, Jory Hill 3, Bjorn Pedersen 12, Reggie Sapa 12, Nico Young 2, Cooper Ross 3, Grady Hutton 13, Silas Ypma 3.    

BIGFORK — Tamret Savik 4, Quinn Herring 6, Treker Hickey 9, Austin Savik 14, Alex Ochs 5, Jack Lucke 4.