Columbia Falls Wins Class A State Championship

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.