Wildcats upend Yellowjackets to open boys basketball season
The Daily Inter Lake
HAMILTON - Columbia Falls opened its Class A boys basketball season with a 66-59 victory on Friday over Stevensville at the Northwestern A versus Southwestern A Tipoff Tournament.
Chase Grilley led the defending state champions with 17 points. Fourteen of those came in the opening half.
Karsten Peterson added 12 points for the Wildcats, including five straight down the stretch to ice the contest.
Columbia Falls led by 15 points in the third quarter, but Stevensville battled back to get within three at one point. That's when Peterson took over.
Chase Fairbank, 11 points, gave Columbia Falls three players in double figures.
Stevensville led only once, 2-0, while Columbia Falls led 27-21 after the opening stanza.
"I was real happy with our effort," said Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg.
"They came out early with a lot of confidence. They played extremely hard. Now we need to settle down a little bit, take care of the ball."
Columbia Falls 66, Stevensville 59
Columbia Falls 27 13 15 11- 66
Stevensville 21 11 14 13 - 59
COLUMBIA FALLS - Chase Fairbank 11, Kyle Jangula 6, Dustin Gibson 5, Karsten Peterson 12, Chase Grilley 17, Jaerd Jimmerman 2, Zane Ridings 1, Bobby Pearce 2, Michael Taylor 7, Mitchell Wassam 1, Grant Getts 2.
STEVENSVILLE - Drew Zieler 11, Boone Chambers 2,Nick Dahlquist 7, Ryan Grove 15, Bridger Chambers 22, Logan Creech 3, Ethan Pateman 2.
Dillon 56, Whitefish 44
Dillon 16 11 16 13 - 56
Whitefish 17 7 8 12 - 44
DILLON - Spencer Jenne 6, Zach McRae 3, Jake Iverson 12, Dana Ori 10, Chase Godecke 9, Brock Myllymaki 3, Bryce Carver 2, Corey Eiesnzimmer 6.
WHITEFISH - Aaron Tkachyk 2, Luke Fennelly 4, Colt Idol 16, Jimmie Clogg 6, David FauntLeRoy 5, Kenny Overcast 6, Byron Whitcomb 5.
Frenchtown 45, Ronan 43
Frenchtown 8 14 15 8 - 45
Ronan 11 11 9 12 - 43
FRENCHTOWN - Nate Lebsock 18, David Velasquez 2, Kyle Larson 4, Logan Mether 10, Caleb DeGroot 11.
RONAN - Moss Tanner 18, Gene Adams 3, Nolan Harris 10, Cameron Barber 10.
Libby 70, Corvallis 37
Libby 29 11 16 14 - 70
Corvallis 10 8 4 15 - 37
LIBBY - Kyle Baker 12, Jim Mee 18, Joel Fuller 4, Charley May 14, Rob Carney 1, Zach Rowan 4, Neil Young 3, Tyler Brothers 2, Bryan Cooper 2, Conner Benson 2, Nick Broden 8.
CORVALLIS - Erik Spencer 14, Garrett Morris 5, Dalton Sybrant 7, Braden Bowles 3, Tucker Holland 2, Nick Stoker 2, Matt Smith 2, Darren Kaerns 2.
Browning 72, Bigfork 42
Browning 19 26 14 13 - 72
Bigfork 10 21 7 4 - 42
BROWNING - J. Blackman 4, S. Kipp 4, J. Long Time Sleeper 7, Juneau 26, M. Goss 4, TJ. Lafrombouis 7, A. Spotted Wolf 6, B. Weatherwax 6, DJ Fish 8.
BIGFORK - Jon White 2, Roland Benedict 22, Justin Goode 10, Andrew Whittaker 6, Keenan Evans 2.
Eureka 67, Hamilton 58
Eureka 15 14 23 15 - 67
Hamilton 12 11 17 12 - 58
EUREKA - Clete Deshazer 4, Zach Richter 2, Danny Cameren 12, Devon Miller 8, Spencer Satori 14, Isiah Linnell 27.
HAMILTON - Jason Schallenberger 14, Ryan Turley 10, Evan Greene 2, Adam Moyer 10, Billy Barnes 9, Brandon Syme 3, Britt Farley 10.
Anaconda 48, Polson 42
Polson 10 9 10 19-- 42
Anaconda 3 12 18 9 - 48
POLSON - Craig Bagnell 8, John Rausch 11, Chris Ogle 5, Tyler Gordon 6, Aaron Clairmont 2, Ryan Kelley 1, Zach Langston 1, Spencer Sias 14.
ANACONDA - Nate Lopez 5, Phil Dedman 2, Tristan Spehar 6, Nick Hensley 6, Steve Antonich 5, Tyler Hurley 18.