<a href="http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/slide_show_northwestern_a_divisional_basketball_day_two/16303/" title="Slide Show of images from day two of the Northwestern A Divisional tournament.“>Slide Show of images from day two of the Northwestern A Divisional tournament.
A crisp, clean performance from the Columbia Falls Wildcats was more than the fifth-seeded Ronan Chiefs could handle Friday night, as the Wildcats continued their season-long dominance for a 64-36 win.
The first quarter offense for the Wildcats belonged to senior forward Mitchell Wassam, who scored eight of the team’s 13 points. Tough defense from both teams kept much of the action outside the arc, but Columbia Falls dominated the Chiefs in the paint.
The Chiefs managed a 10-point second quarter with a relentless offense and scrappy defense despite being outsized by the Wildcats. However, a persistent Columbia Falls performance kept the Wildcats ahead with high-flying defense from the big men in the paint, increasing their lead at halftime to 29-19.
Several driving plays from Ronan managed to weave through the tall Wildcat defense, but most of the Chief’s offense came from the perimeter.
Columbia Falls played up to its No. 1 ranking with reliable offense from their big men: 6-5 sophomore Austin Barth who finished with 13 points; 6-3 junior Kaleb Johnson with 12 points and 6-2 Wassam, finishing with a game-high 16 points.
The second half opened with an offensive spark from Ronan junior Lucas Black, who scored five quick points to bring the Chiefs within seven. But a quick couple layups from the Wildcats brought the lead back to double digits.
Black led the Chiefs with a team-high 10 points, followed by junior Jerod Tanner, who finished with eight.
Columbia Falls continued to overwhelm the Chiefs down low, going on a 12-0 run in the third quarter, propelling the Wildcats into the fourth quarter with a dominating 17-point lead.
The Wildcats continued to dominate through the fourth quarter, extending the lead to over 30 points with over three minutes to go.
With the win, the Columbia Falls Wildcats’ season record improved to 17-2 move on to Saturday’s championship game. The Ronan Chiefs will play in the loser-out game Saturday morning.
<a href="http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/game_center_2010_northwestern_a_divisionals/16246/" title="For more Northwestern A Divisional tournament coverage, visit the Game Center: 2010.“>For more Northwestern A Divisional tournament coverage, visit the Game Center: 2010.