It was a difference between day and night for the Columbia Falls varsity basketball team during opening weekend action at the Western A Tip-off Tournament in Hamilton and Corvallis.

The Wildcats bounced back — in a big way — from Friday’s 50-35 loss to Dillon, rolling past Anaconda 87-65 on Saturday.

CFHS managed just a dozen points in the first half against Dillon at Hamilton High School, trailing 16-12 at intermission. Behind by just five with a period to play, the Cats were outscored 21-11 in the final quarter.

“We came out real tentative,” Cats coach Carey Finberg said. “Dillon was the more aggressive team. Defensively, we weren’t bad.”

Inability to score hampered the Cats in other aspects of the game.

“We just didn’t shoot the ball very well. The more we missed the more tentative we got,” Finberg said. “We had good opportunities. We had trouble catching the ball. We missed some easy ones (shots). It snowballed after that.”

Finberg said the Cats had a chance to cut the lead to three in the final seconds of the third period but missed a layup. Dillon hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter.

“We went from what would have been down one (point) to down eight in a matter of 10 seconds,” Finberg said. “I credit our defense for keeping us in it.”

The Cats controlled the boards, outrebounding Dillon, 34-20. Kaleb Johnson led CFHS with eight rebounds.

CFHS suffered 25 turnovers and shot just 30 percent from the field. The Cats were just 2-for-17 from behind the 3-point arc.

Michael Williams led the Cats with 10 points. Mackey Nolan had three assists.

IN CONTRAST TO Friday’s game, the Cats scored at least 20 points in every quarter in the win over Anaconda. The Cats defense held Anaconda to 25 second-half points.

“The kids were disappointed in the way they played (against Dillon),” Finberg said. “We played a little more like we’re capable of playing (against Anaconda). When you start making some baskets things get a lot easier in other aspects.”

The Cats shot 50 percent from the field, and were 9-for-19 on 3-pointers. Playing more aggressively on offense, the Cats got to the foul line more often — converting 14 of 21 free throws.

Seven players scored eight or more points, and 10 Cats played at least 10 minutes.

“We played a lot of kids. Everybody contributed,” Finberg said.

CFHS outrebounded Anaconda, 32-24. Nolan had seven rebounds, and Grant Getts added six.

Nolan had a very solid all-around game. He had 11 points and 11 assists for a double-double, plus three steals and only one turnover.

“We’re going to go where Mackey takes us this year,” Finberg said.

The Cats had only 11 turnovers in the win.

In his second varsity game, freshman Austin Barth led the Cats with 14 points; he blocked two shots.

“He played tremendous for a freshman. He grew up in a hurry,” Finberg said of Barth.

Tanner Barth added 12 points, Williams had 11, Getts nine, and Kyle Howell and Mitchell Wassam eight each.

The Cats face Flathead High on Friday in Kalispell, then they play Sentinel on Saturday in Missoula.

“We’ll go in and play hard and see where we’re at,” Finberg said. “We’re going to play a lot of kids again. We need to get up and down the floor and be aggressive with the ball.”

DILLON (50)

Totals 16 15-24 50.

COLUMBIA FALLS (35)

Williams 4 1-4 10, Getts 2 2-2 7, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Wassam 2 0-0 4, Robbins 1 2-2 4, Nolan 2 0-0 4, Emerson 1 0-0 2, Howell 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 5-8 35.

Dillon    13    9    7    11 — 50

Columbia Falls    12    8    10    6 — 35

3-point goals: Dillon 3; Williams, Getts. Total fouls: Dillon 12, CF 24. Fouled out: Wassam.

COLUMBIA FALLS (87)

Williams 4 0-0 11, Getts 3 3-4 9, Johnson 0 1-2 1, Wassam 3 2-4 8, A. Barth 5 4-5 14, Robbins 1 0-2 2, Nolan 4 2-2 11, Begay 2 0-0 5, Triplett 2 0-0 6, T. Barth 4 2-2 12, Howell 4 0-0 8. Totals 32 14-21 87.

ANACONDA (65)

Totals 21 18-25 65.

Columbia Falls    21    24    22    20 — 87

Anaconda    17    23    11    14 — 65

3-point goals: Williams 3, T. Barth 2, Triplett 2, Begay, Nolan; Anaconda 5. Total fouls: CF 22, Anaconda 20. Fouled out: None.