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Northwestern A Divisionals: Columbia Falls Routs Polson to Win Divisional Title

By Beacon Staff

<a href="http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/slide_show_northwestern_a_divisional_basketball_championships/16320/" title="Slide Show of images from the Northwestern A Divisional tournament championship games.“>Slide Show of images from the Northwestern A Divisional tournament championship games.

The Columbia Falls Wildcats’ steady attack proved to be too much for the Polson Pirates in the Northwestern A Divisional basketball tournament at Glacier High School Saturday.

The Cats opened the game on a 12-2 run that forced the Pirates to call an early timeout. But Polson stormed back behind the team’s long-range shooting, at one point cutting the lead to one point.

But the Cats have three-point shooters of their own, including Kyle Howell, who had nine points at the end of the first half. The Cats’ Mitchell Wassam added 11.

Polson trailed by just six points at half time behind balanced scoring led by Louis Mohr’s eight points. But it would have been closer had their three-point shooting not gone cold. By halftime, the Pirates were just four for 14 from behind the line.

Like the girls, the Columbia Falls boys came into the tournament heavy favorites. They didn’t lose one league game this season and dominated Ronan 64-36 in the semifinals. They came into the gym with a swagger that extended to the court. They spread the floor, make crisp passes and execute an offense that can quickly hurt opponents who leave even the smallest of openings.

The second half began at a considerable slower pace, with both teams coming out a little flat. But Columbia Falls regained its rhythm with back-to-back buckets by Howell and Wassam, giving them their first double-digit lead since early in the first half.

Meanwhile, Polson missed shots from close range and forced others. And that was all the opening Columbia Falls needed. When Michael Williams hit a three-pointer with 1:46 left in the third, the lead had grown to 17 and Polson was forced to take another timeout. Back-to-back threes allowed Polson to pull within 13 before the final quarter. But the lead was too much to overcome.

Columbia Falls played patient down the stretch and was able to find holes in Polson’s full-court press. When Polson began chipping away at the lead, the Wildcats would answer. And while, at one point, the lead was reduced to single digits, it was never in doubt.

For the much of the final few minutes of the game, Columbia Falls ate up the clock while extending its lead. The score was 60-46 when the Wildcats celebrated at center court. And now they head to the state tournament with a swagger.

Howell led the Cats with 18 points and Wassam added 10. For Polson, Kyle Bagnell led the team in scoring with 12 point.

There will be a state-tournament play-in game between Polson and Ronan on Monday.

<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.