The announcement over the loudspeaker inside Columbia Falls’ gym on Jan. 3 caught everyone’s attention, especially Cary Finberg’s.
Thirty miles down the road in Bigfork, the Wildcats were trailing the Vikings by one point in the final quarter of a tightly contested boys basketball game.
A smile crossed Finberg’s face. But after a moment he returned his attention to the action in front of him.
After a dominating first half and well-rounded offensive effort, the Columbia Falls girls fended off a late comeback attempt by the Valkyries and earned their league-leading sixth win of the season, 47-35.
Minutes later, Finberg heard the boys also won their league-best sixth game in exciting fashion, 61-59 in overtime.
Success is common for a Columbia Falls boys program that seemingly reloads year after year as a Montana powerhouse. But this season, under the double-duty guidance of Finberg, the girls program is experiencing a revival and reminding everyone that Columbia Falls is a two-team town.
“We have a chance to be very good, but we’ll see where it goes,” Finberg said of the girls.
The renowned head coach, who has directed the Wildcats to four state championships and more than 230 wins in 16 seasons, has gotten used to the peculiar circumstance of being an occasional bystander. After all, that’s what he signed up for last season when he took over both the boys and girls programs.
On nights this season when the teams can’t play a double-header at the same site, Finberg is entrusting the boys team to his nephew Christopher and the other reliable assistant coaches who have been with Finberg for years. He can also rely on the group of varsity boys who have state tournament experience and know what it takes to compete for a championship.
“Our coaches know what they’re doing and the kids know what they’re doing,” Finberg said. “The boys know the routine.”
The Wildcats’ routine these past few season has included rarely losing at home, frequently toppling AA opponents and playing in the championship six of the last 10 years. Under Finberg, Columbia Falls has won titles in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2011.
While their head coach juggled coaching duties for the first time last year, the boys didn’t miss a beat. Led by strong senior leadership, the reigning Class A state champs rolled through the regular season and claimed their fourth straight Northwestern A title. The pursuit of a second straight crown fell just short after Dillon, a familiar postseason foe, snatched a 54-39 victory in the Class A title game in Butte.
But while the Wildcats enjoyed another run through the championship tournament, the girls team fell short of the postseason bracket for the first time since 2008.
Finberg took over a girls program last year that included only two seniors and 17 freshmen. The season ended in the divisional consolation game with a win over Libby. Their record was 9-12 overall.
It is too soon to declare a return to dominance this season, but the Wildkats appear ready to make a postseason run.
As a team, Columbia Falls is leading the conference in scoring, averaging 55 per game, as well as rebounds, 43 per game, and assists, with more than 14.
Junior Haley Belgarde, a 6-foot second-team all conference post, is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. Belgarde leads the conference in rebounding, averaging almost 13 per game.
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After a quick move through the Bigfork defense, Haley Belgarde gets a shot up for two points during Columba Falls’ win on their home court. Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon |
Senior Hope Burlage, a 5-9 second-team all conference guard, is averaging nearly 10 points per game and almost five assists. Burlage is a team co-captain with classmates Tori Price and Kathrin Jetty. Sophomore Winter Kemppainen, a 5-11 forward, is averaging nearly nine points per game.
“We are three times ahead of the game compared to where we were at the end of last year,” Finberg said. “Athletically and talent wise we’re there. But we have a lot of young players on the team. Mentally we need to continue to get better and continue to find our identity.”
The boys team is a similar story. Many familiar faces have graduated and new players are being ask to step up.
Enter Luke Kazlauskas. The senior, who is averaging nearly 16 points per game, scored the game-winning layup against Bigfork last week. He has emerged as a go-to leader in the same mold as former standout Wildcats. Alex Presnell, a junior, has also shined, averaging more than 14 per game.
The Wildcats’ lone defeat came against Flathead, by two points, and the team will face another tough AA test this week. Columbia Falls hosts Glacier on Thursday in a double-header. The girls play at 6 p.m. and the boys play at 8 p.m.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re starting over but as far as roles and what we want out of the boys, everybody is in a completely new role,” Finberg said of the boys. “Mentally they know what it takes to get there. They’ve been through it. These kids have practiced against the teams that won state and played in the state championship.”
A preseason coaches poll picked both Columbia Falls teams to be atop Northwestern A. The boys were expected to edge Polson and Whitefish. The girls were forecast to edge reigning champ Frenchtown and a strong Polson team.
“Our goal is the same as the boys’ — we want to get better every day and we want to get to that state tournament and see what happens,” Finberg said. “I’m happy where both teams are at. But I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied.”