Libby implodes under Wildcats' pressure

COLUMBIA FALLS - Preparing for it is one thing.

Handling it, however, is another.

"Everybody knows it's coming," said Libby coach Wally Winslow of Columbia Falls' vaunted full court pressure.

"But you still have to deal with it."

Libby never did solve it Friday night and Columbia Falls capitalized on it for a 68-41 Northwestern A boys basketball victory.

The Loggers turned the ball over 27 times, the major coming against the pressure. Columbia Falls had just 10 turnovers.

"What that really does is puts them in an aggressive state of mind," said Winslow of the press.

"It puts the opponent back on their heels so you're reacting instead of attacking."

Columbia Falls bolted to a 12-0 start, led 35-16 at the break and then used a 12-2 run to start the second half to put the contest out of reach.

"It's tough," said Winslow.

"First you have to figure out how to handle the press. And if you do break it, they're always back on defense, protecting pretty well.

"They can shoot the ball and run," he continued.

"They have a good package."

Kevin Boyer topped the Wildcats offensively, scoring 21 points. Robbie Dakin added 15 and Greg Macijunas followed with 13.

Macijunas tallied eight of his points in the first four minutes of the second half, including a dandy baseline reverse layup.

"I thought before the (Christmas) break we started to do some good things with our press," said Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg.

"I think the two weeks we had off allowed us to get better and better at it."

Columbia Falls also dominated play in the paint. The Wildcats had 13 offensive rebounds to just three for Libby.

Overall, Columbia Falls outrebounded the Loggers 28-23. Macijunas finished with eight and Nick Beckwith pulled down seven.

"I was pround of their effort," said Finberg.

"If we continue to play like that, we will be hard to beat."

Jim Mee's 16 points, which included four treys, paced Libby. David Horelick was next with 14 points.

Columbia Falls, 2-0 in league and 5-2 overall, hosts Whitefish tonight at 8. Libby, 0-2 and 3-2, entertains Frenchtown at 6.

WILDCATS 68, LOGGERS 41

Libby 8 8 9 16 - 41

Columbia Falls 18 17 19 14 - 68

Libby - Brian Hermsmeyer 1 0-0 3, Caleb Swartzendruber 2 0-0 6, Jim Mee 6 0-0 16, David Horelick 7 0-1 14, Nick Broden 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 0-1 41.

Columbia Falls - Chase Fairbank 2 0-1 4, Kevin Boyer 8 3-4 21, Robbie Dakin 6 0-0 15, Kyle Jangula 0 0-2 0, Guy Smith 4 0-1 8, Andrew Burgi 1 0-0 2, Chase Grilley 0 1-2 1, Greg Macijunas 6 1-4 13, Nick Beckwith 2 0-0 4.

3-point goals: Hermsmeyer, Swartzendruber (2), Mee (4); Boyer (2), Dakin (3). Team fouls: Libby 15, Columbia Falls 7. Fouled out: None.