Page 68 - Flathead Beacon // 12.17.14

68 | DECEMBER 17, 2014
SPORTS
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L arry Schmautz Memorial Court, thumping in the heart of Columbia Falls and its be- loved high school, is a vibrant artifact, defined by the pres- tigious past and ever-prominent present. Most schools boast trophies, paint-
ing their walls in gold.
No doubt, Columbia Falls owns
enough hardware to redecorate the halls. But mostly it’s a growing collec- tion of portraits that adorns the walls outside the gym, generations of student- athletes who enjoyed the sweetness of success. It can remind and motivate those who walk past. There’s great his- tory here.
For most of the year, this site can lay quietly dormant.
But come winter, the largest, most popular gathering place in Columbia Falls is full of life, fired up by the com- munity’s storied pastime.
It’s basketball season.
CLASS A
There’s plenty to cheer about in Co- lumbia Falls this season.
The boys are back as the reigning state champions of Class A while the girls team is a talented and highly touted contender.
The Wildcats graduated a pair of vet- eran starters — Jared Trinastich and Alex Presnell — but this latest roster is once again chock full of skill and athleti- cism, meaning there are high expecta- tions for one of Montana’s dynastic pro- grams.
Last season the Wildcats stormed to their sixth Northwestern A divisional title and claimed the team’s fifth state championship since 2003, defeating Dil- lon 56-47.
“What this team has to realize, they’re trying to do something that’s harder than what last year’s team did. That’s defending the title,” said head coach Cary Finberg. “Teams always give us their best shot most of the time any- way, but when you win (the champion- ship) they’re really going to come after you.”
Finberg has a few veteran lead- ers to take command on the hardwood this winter. Senior guard Ty Morgan, a second-team all-conference selection a year ago, is already off to a hot start, scoring 25 in the season-opening win over Corvallis. All-conference honor- able mention nominees Jayce Fagerland
Ty Morgan drives past Alex Croymans. Columbia Falls beat Flathead 70-45 on Dec. 11. For more photos visit www.FlatheadBeacon.com.PHOTOS BY GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
BOYS BREAKDOWN
CLASS A
COLUMBIA FALLS
Head Coach: Cary Finberg (19th season, 278-134) Last Season: 19-4, Class A state champions Returning Standouts: Ty Morgan, Sr., G; Grant Wallace, Jr., F; Jayce Fagerland, Sr., G; Trevor Houston, Sr., G
WHITEFISH
Head Coach: Curtis Green (1st season)
Last Season: 11-10, third place in NWA Returning Standouts: Cody Olson, Sr., G; A.J. Wetsch, Sr., F; Luke May, Jr., G; Jack Streibich, Sr.,F
POLSON
Head Coach: Randy Kelley (1st season)
Last Season: 8-17, won NWA challenge game to advance to state tournament
Returning Standouts: Tanner Wilson, Soph., G; Andrew Curley, Sr., G; Chris McDonald, Sr., F
LIBBY
Head Coach: Josh Bean (1st season)
Last Season: 1-19
Returning Standouts: Collin Johnson, Sr., G; Jonny Cielak, Jr., G; Michael Curtiss, Sr., C
CLASS AA
GLACIER
Head Coach: Mark Harkins (8th season, 92-65) Last Season: 12-12, fourth place in Western AA, advanced to state semifinals
Returning Standouts: Jaxen Hashley, Soph., P; Sam McCamley, Sr., G; Cain Boschee, Sr., F
FLATHEAD
Head Coach: Fred Febach (12th season, 113-131) Last Season: 8-13, fifth place in Western AA Standouts: Tyler Johnson, Fr, G; Alex Croymans, Sr., G; Blake Wilson, Jr., F
CLASS B
BIGFORK
Head Coach: Sam Tudor (1st season)
Last Season: 26-0, Class B state champions Returning Standouts: Josh Sandry, Sr., G; Isaac Martel, Sr., G; Ryder Trent, Sr., G; Adam Jordt, Sr., G; Jon Landon, Jr., G
and Grant Wallace are back as well. There’s no shortage of speed and sharp-shooting in the backcourt for Co- lumbia Falls, but there’s also two tower- ing presences down low — Wallace and Grant Stenger both stand 6-foot-7 as ju-
niors.
In a 70-45 win over Flathead last
week, there were five players who scored nine points or more, led by Morgan’s 16 and Wallace’s 15. Tyler Murphy is also emerging as a standout; he had eight re- bounds and eight points.
“Offensively this team is very, very dangerous. Defensively we’ve got to get better,” Finberg said. “I think we can get there. It’s just a matter of guys buy- ing into what we need to do as a team and buckling down on rebounds and on the defensive end.”
For the fourth consecutive season, Finberg is working double duty as head coach for both the boys and girls teams. The Wildkats have a bulk of last season’s squad back, including Finberg’s talented daughters, all-state sophomore Cydney Finberg and first-team all-conference
senior Ciera Finberg. Senior Winter Kemppainen nearly averaged a double- double last season and is poised for an- other standout year. There are a total of six girls back who earned postseason all- conference honors.
The Wildkats went 22-2 a year ago, unseating Frenchtown as the North- western A divisional champs and bring- ing home a third-place trophy from the state tournament, the program’s first hardware since 1988.
With a deep, talented lineup, Colum- bia Falls has its sights on the program’s first state championship since 1983. But for that to happen, the girls will likely have to get past Hamilton, which re- turns four starters from last year’s run- ner-up team.
In Whitefish, the boys team has a new head coach — Curtis Green — and a fresh starting lineup hoping to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2009. Last season the Bulldogs went 11-10 overall, 5-3 in Northwestern A and just missed out on qualifying for the state tournament, falling to Polson in the divisional challenge game. De- spite losing four all-conference start- ers, the boys were picked to tie for sec- ond with Polson in league standings this winter, according to a coaches poll.
On the girls side, second-year coach Clint Peters is hoping to rebuild the girls team with a young roster. Sophomore Haley Nicholson and freshman Dani Douglas are already providing bright spots early in the season as the Lady Bulldogs try to improve on last year’s 1-19 record.
“OFFENSIVELY THIS TEAM IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. DEFENSIVELY WE’VE GOT TO GET BETTER. I THINK WE CAN GET THERE. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF GUYS BUYING INTO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A TEAM AND BUCKLING DOWN ON REBOUNDS AND ON THE DEFENSIVE END.”
Cary Finberg, head coach of Columbia Falls’ basketball teams
In Polson, Randy Kelley is now at