Wildcats clamp down, stop Wolfpack

COLUMBIA FALLS - Cary Finberg's message at halftime was simple - no more 3-pointers.

Unfortunately for Glacier, the Columbia Falls Wildcats got the message.

The top-ranked team in Class A clamped down defensively in the second half and held the Wolfpack to 10 points and 0-for-12 shooting from deep.

Add that with a clutch shot by Parker Johnson and the Wildcats ran their season record to 9-0 with a 42-36 nonconference boys basketball victory on Thursday night.

"It's usually a good game when we play. In years past it's usually been a close, high-scoring game, and this year was a very close low-scoring game," Finberg said. "That's why defense was even more important tonight."

In the middle of a packed gymnasium, the Wolfpack and Wildcats stayed true to the ways of a growing rivalry. It was physical and spirited from tip-off to buzzer, just like usual. But, a year after Glacier upended top-ranked and undefeated Columbia Falls in Kalispell in overtime, the Wildcats played hometown spoiler this time.

The Wolfpack (3-6 overall) grabbed the momentum early thanks to hot shooting and led almost the entire game. The biggest advantage came early in the third quarter with Glacier up 28-18. But then the Wildcats' defense went to work with an impressive zone while the offense finally got going, albeit a tired-legged performance at the free-throw line.

The Wildcats shot 14-for-29 from the line and made only 4-of-13 in the fourth quarter.

"Offensively we struggled all night long, but part of that goes to the credit of Glacier," Finberg said. "They did a nice job on us defensively. Sometimes you have to gut out a win and we did that tonight. I'm just proud of the kids' effort. That's the type of game we need to get better for tournaments."

Columbia Falls senior forward Jacob Calderwood tied the game for the first time since tip-off with a free throw at 6:11 in the fourth. The score remained knotted at 32-all for another three minutes, and after both teams exchanged baskets, it was Johnson who stepped up and sank his second 3-pointer of the game to put Columbia Falls ahead 37-34 with just under three minutes left. The Wildcats held on for dear life from there as Glacier threw up several close looks that didn't find the net.

"We found a way to win in the second half playing some good defense," Johnson, a junior, said.

He added, "We came into this game knowing it's a really big rivalry just cause both schools are doing really well in basketball now, so we really look forward to this game."

Johnson finished with a team-high 10 points and had three steals and Nick Emerson and Austin Barth each scored eight. Kaleb Johnson finished with seven points and nine rebounds, Emerson had eight rebounds and Barth grabbed seven.

"I challenged the guys beforehand that we need to come in here and match the intensity that we knew we were going to see," Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. "I thought they competed very well. I'm really proud of these guys and their effort."

Bryan Chery led the Glacier offense, which is prone to sharp-shooting but not this night. Chery had a game-high 13 points and made three of the Wolfpack's four 3-pointers in the first half, including a running shot from just past half-court that went in as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first quarter. Kyle Griffith added eight points for the Wolfpack.

"Our message at halftime was no more 3s, and I thought the kids did a better job of getting to the shooters in the second half," Finberg said. "We just did enough offensively to get it done. But defense carried us tonight. Our defensive intensity and limiting their 3s in the second half, that was the big difference tonight."

Columbia Falls host Missoula Loyola on Saturday at 6 p.m. Glacier hosts Libby tonight at 8.

Glacier 14 12 6 4 - 36

Columbia Falls 11 7 11 13 - 42

GLACIER - Bryan Chery 3 4-4 13, Trey Griffith 0 0-2 0, Kyle Griffith 3 2-2 8, Jacob Leininger 1 0-1 2, Colter Hanson 1 0-0 3, Sean Peters 2 0-0 4, Ryan Edwards 2 0-2 4, Brandon Doty 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 6-11 36.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Devyn Rocker 0 4-4 4, Nick Emerson 3 2-7 8, Parker Johnson 3 2-3 10, Austin Barth 3 2-4 8, Kaleb Johnson 2 3-9 7, Jacob Calderwood 2 1-2 5. Totals 13 14-29 42.

3-pointers - Glacier 4 (Chery 3, Hanson), Columbia Falls 2 (P. Johnson 2); Rebounds - Glacier 42 (Edwards 8, Leininger 4, T. Griffith 3, Hanson 3), Columbia Falls 37 (K. Johnson 9, Emerson 8, Barth 7); Turnovers - Glacier 15, Columbia Falls 15; Steals - Glacier 5 (Chery, T. Griffith, Hanson, Peters, Edwards), Columbia Falls 7 (P. Johnson 3, Barth 2, Rocker, K. Johnson); Fouls - Glacier 17, Columbia Falls 15; Fouled out - Edwards, Chery; Technicals - Columbia Falls.

Girls

Glacier 63,

Columbia Falls 46

COLUMBIA FALLS - Paige Latimer scored 13 points, Cassidy Hashley had 12 and Patty Hughes added 11 as the Wolfpack downed Columbia Falls in a nonconference game.

Kayla DeWit scored a game-high 16 points, Hope Burlage had 10 and Jonna Werner added nine for Columbia Falls.

Glacier jumped ahead 31-24 at halftime and outscored the Wildkats 32-22 in the second half.

Baylee Quay scored eights points and Ashlee Waggener had six for Glacier.

The Wolfpack hosts Libby at 6 p.m. today. Columbia Falls travels to Missoula for a game with Loyola.

Glacier 12 19 18 14 - 63

Columbia Falls 13 11 11 11 - 46

GLACIER - Nicole Heavirland 5, Rachel Chery 2, Paige Latimer 13, Cami Mathison 4, Cassidy Hashley 12, Baylee Quay 8, Patty Hughes 11, Ashlee Waggener 6, Tiffany Marks 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Kayla Stratton 2, Danielle Gilley 4, Kayla DeWit 16, Allie Lampman 3, Hope Burlage 10, Jonna Werner 9, Erin Hill 1.