Columbia Falls looked eager to maintain its conference supremacy and vie for a sixth consecutive Northwestern A title.
Alex Presnell scored a game-high 14 points, Jared Trinastich netted 13 and the Wildcats held off Polson 62-48 on Saturday to advance to Sunday’s divisional championship game.
Columbia Falls (15-4) used a balanced attack and its athletic size to take control early, jumping ahead 16-8 after the first quarter and leading 28-17 at half. Polson got within nine late in the fourth quarter but the Wildcats closed it out with free throws. The team shot 16-for-22 from the charity stripe all game.
Nine players in all contributed scoring, including Ty Morgan, Jayce Fagerland and Nakia Alexander, who each had seven apiece.
Cedrick Smith paced Polson (5-15) with 13 points and Matthew Rensvold added nine.
The Pirates fall to the consolation game at 4:30 p.m., Sunday. Frenchtown and Whitefish tip off at 7:30 p.m., Saturday. The winner advances to the title game while the loser plays Libby at 10:30 a.m. for a shot at the consolation.
Polson 8 9 11 20 – 48
Columbia Falls 16 12 16 18 – 62POLSON – Cedrick Smith 4 5-6 13, Andrew Weltz 1 6-12 8, Jacob Harrod 1 0-0 3, Andrew Curley 3 0-0 7, Tanner Wilson 3 0-0 8, Matthew Rensvold 3 3-4 9. Totals 15 14-22 48.
COLUMBIA FALLS – Alex Presnell 4 4-6 14, Trevor Houston 1 0-0 2, Grant Stenger 1 1-4 3, Jayce Fagerland 2 2-2 7, Nakia Alexander 3 1-1 7, Ty Morgan 2 3-5 7, Mason Gedlaman 2 3-4 7, Jared Trinastich 5 2-2 13, Grant Wallace 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 16-22 62.
3-point goals – Polson 4 (Wilson 2, Curley, Harrod); Columbia Falls 4 (Presnell 2, Trinastich, Fagerland); Team fouls – Polson 16, Columbia Falls 12. Fouled out – Trinastich, Wilson.