For the first time since the conference season started, we’ve had a little shuffling at the top of the Northwestern A boys basketball standings. Polson upset undefeated Columbia Falls 59-52 at home on Feb. 5 to claim the top spot, moving to 5-1 in league games.
The loss will surely move the Pirates up in the next Associated Press state power poll, which comes out Wednesday, though I doubt it will bump Columbia Falls down from its No. 1 position in Class A. After all, the Wildcats are still a state-best 13-1 on the season.
Columbia Falls and Polson flip-flopped in the girls’ standings as well, though in this case it was the Wildkats doing the leapfrogging. The Wildkats beat the Pirates 45-40 over the weekend to remain unbeaten in conference games this season. Senior Kayla DeWit scored 23 of her team’s 45 points.
DeWit continues to lead the conference in scoring, as does Polson senior Louis Mohr for the boys. The only new entries into the top-five scoring leaders this week are Ronan senior Kevin Wroblewski for boys and Columbia Falls sophomore Hope Burlage for girls.
In addition to having a cool name, Burlage apparently has a bright future. Stepping up for DeWit, who was out with illness, Burlage scored 21 points in a 45-32 victory over Thompson Falls on Jan. 27.
Northwestern A Standings:
Boys
Polson – 11-4; 5-1
Columbia Falls – 13-1; 4-1
Libby – 8-7; 3-3
Whitefish – 9-5; 2-3
Ronan – 6-9; 0-6Girls
Columbia Falls – 7-7; 5-0
Polson – 9-6; 5-1
Libby – 6-9; 3-3
Whitefish – 1-13; 1-4
Ronan – 0-15; 0-6
Individual Scoring Leaders:
Boys
1. Louis Mohr, Sr., Polson – 19.8
2. Nick Emerson, Sr., Columbia Falls – 17.2
3. Gage Vasquez, Jr., Whitefish – 15.9
4. Kyle Bagnell, Sr., Polson – 14.2
5. Kevin Wroblewski, Sr., Ronan – 10.4Girls
1. Kayla DeWit, Sr., Columbia Falls – 19.6
2. Jaime Gilden, Sr., Libby – 16.9
3. Riley Kenney, Jr., Polson – 13.4
4. Breanne Kelley, Sr., Polson – 11.9
5. Hope Burlage, So., Columbia Falls – 7.9