Columbia Falls Wins Class A State Championship

By Beacon Staff

The Columbia Falls Wildcats are champions of the hardwood once again.

Ty Morgan scored 14 points, Alex Presnell had 11 and Columbia Falls defeated Dillon 56-47 to win the Class A basketball title in Great Falls on Saturday.

It’s the Wildcats’ fifth championship since 2003 and first since 2011, when Columbia Falls topped Dillon 55-43. This was the fourth meeting between the two teams in six years, and the victory tied the record at two-all between the dynastic programs.

Dillon edged Columbia Falls in the 2009 state championship, but then two years later the Wildcats got the best of the Beavers, winning 55-43 in the title game. The following year, in 2012, they met again and Dillon beat Columbia Falls 54-39.

On Saturday night, Jayce Fagerland and Jared Trinastich each had nine points for the Wildcats and Austin Kimmet added six.

Dillon 14 12 11 10 — 47
C-Falls 16 15 12 13 — 56

DILLON — Chance Kluesner 1-3 0-0 2, Trae Williams 0-2 1-2 1, J.D. Ferris 0-3 2-4 2, Parker Love 2-3 0-0 6, Nate Simkins 1-5 0-1 3, Justin Ferris 0-5 2-2 2, Troy Scott 3-14 12-13 19, Tanner Haverfield 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Ferris 1-3 4-6 6, Brady Richardson 3-4 0-1 6. Totals: 11-43 21-29 47.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Alex Presnell 4-7 0-1 11, Trevor Houston 1-1 0-0 2, Grant Stenger 1-2 1-1 3, Jayce Fagerland 2-5 3-4 9, Austin Kimmet 1-2 3-4 6, Nakia Alexander 0-1 2-2 2, Ty Morgan 3-6 7-8 14, Mason Gedlaman 0-0 0-2 0, Jared Trinastich 3-4 3-3 9, Grant Wallace 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-29 19-25 56.

Total fouls — DIL 21, CF 20. Fouled out — Trinastich. 3-point goals — DIL 4-23 (Kluesner 0-2, Williams 0-1, JD Ferris 0-1, Love 2-3, Simkins 1-3, Ju. Ferris 0-4, Scott 1-9), CF 7-10 (Presnell 3-4, Fagerland 2-3, Kimmet 1-1, Morgan 1-2). Rebounds — DIL 26 (Scott 6), CF 24 (Stenger 6). Assists — DIL 9 (JD Ferris 3), CF 10 (Presnell 2, Houston 2, Wallace 2). Steals — DIL 9 (J.D. Ferris 2, Ja. Ferris 2), CF 10 (Stenger 4). Blocks — DIL 0, CF 4 (four with two each). Turnovers — DIL 16, CF 20.