COLUMBIA FALLS – In Class A boys basketball, Columbia Falls has as strong of a claim as anybody to “team of the decade.” Since 2001, the Wildcats have won three state championships, finished second last year and came in third once. Browning has also won three and finished second once in that span.
In this final year of the decade, the Wildcats look to break the tie. And, with an athletic squad of dunkers and sharpshooters, they have the firepower to do it. The Wildcats opened up their season with a dominant 72-23 win over Frenchtown on Dec. 5.
Following last year’s heartbreaking 54-50 loss in the Class A state championship game to Dillon, the Wildcats lost two talented seniors to graduation: point guard Mackey Nolan and forward Grant Getts, both of whom were first-team all-conference selections. Nolan was also all-state. But pretty much everybody else is back, with nine lettermen returning.
Coach Cary Finberg, in his 14th year at the helm, said this year’s squad is the tallest team across the board that he’s ever had. He’s had 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8 players before, but never so many 6-3, 6-4 and 6-5 guys. They’re athletic and talented too.
One of those players is Nick Emerson, a 6-4 junior point guard. In Montana high school basketball, it’s rare to find a skilled point guard of that height. Emerson handles the ball well and dunks with ease. He’ll start out behind senior Kyle Howell at point, but Finberg will make sure to get him plenty of minutes.
With Howell, honorable mention all-conference last year, and Emerson, Finberg can soften the blow from losing Nolan, the gritty point guard who ran the team with grace in the divisional and state tournaments last year.
“A player like Mackey, you don’t replace,” Finberg said.
Emerson played mostly junior varsity last season, seeing scattered minutes of varsity action. But in the offseason he grew nearly three inches and blossomed into a well-rounded player, Finberg said. His natural gifts are apparent, and now with the extra work he’s put in, he is poised to have a breakout season.
“He has a chance to be a very special player,” Finberg said.
Emerson will take cues from Howell, who played shooting guard last year but is naturally a point guard. Howell is a sharpshooter from long range and one of the leading returning scorers. Along with Howell, Finberg will look to his four other seniors for leadership: Mitchell Wassam, Michael Williams, Tim Spencer and Matt Triplett.
Wassam is a bulky 6-2 forward. He is coming off an impressive football season in which he was one of the top quarterbacks in Class A. His 19 touchdown passes were the best in Northwestern A. The team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder, Wassam is a force down on the blocks but can also step away to hit outside jumpers. He was named second-team all-conference in 2008-2009.
Kaleb Johnson, a 6-3 junior, and Austin Barth, a 6-5 sophomore, will help Wassam carry the load down low. Barth had a strong finish to his freshman season last year, particularly in the state title game. In the final contest, Barth scored 16 points, including 14 in the second half.
“He was critical to our late run last year in the tournament,” Finberg said.
As usual, the Wildcats will benefit from having one of the most respected coaches in the state. Finberg is considered by observers to be a basketball guru with a knack for getting the most out of his players. His teams have often made late-season pushes despite not having the most talent.
The Wildcats under Finberg, as proven over the years, are disciplined, scrappy and cool under pressure. The coolness under pressure is a necessity, as Columbia Falls has always been one to toy with the emotions of its fans – the Wildcats’ four state title game appearances have been decided by a total of 13 points.
In 2003, the Cats beat Billings Central 53-47 in overtime. Then in back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006, they defeated Butte Central 52-50 and Frenchtown 52-51. Last year, they lost to Dillon 54-50.
Finberg is measured in his words and realistic in his expectations, but it is obvious that he’s excited about this year’s team. Tall, talented and experienced: That’s enough to make any high school basketball coach giddy.
“We feel we have a chance to be very good,” Finberg said.