Parker Johnson had some key steals and the Columbia Falls basketball team preserved its unbeaten record at 4-0, downing Missoula Sentinel 44-40 last Saturday.

The Spartans shot out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter but the Cats battled back and it was 26-19 Spartans at the half.

In the third quarter the Cats out-scored Missoula 15-8 to take the lead. The Spartans cut the margin to three points late in the fourth and with a few seconds left, had an opportunity to tie it.

But Parker Johnson stole the ball and the game ended in the Cats favor.

Nick Emerson led the team with 14, Johnson tallied nine points, five steals, five rebounds and four assists.

“Parker was the reason we turned the table in the third quarter,” coach Cary Finberg said. The coaching staff named Johnson their “player of the week.”

Emerson had six assists and no turnovers in the second half. Kaleb Johnson also had a solid game, with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

Sentinel out-rebounded the Cats 27-20 and forced eight turnovers in the first quarter.

Against Flathead last Thursday the Cats downed the Braves 58-40 in a game that was closer than the score would suggest.

At halftime the Cats clung to a one-point lead after Flathead cut down a 10-point deficit as big men Austin Barth and Kaleb Johnson were both on the bench in foul trouble.

Columbia Falls took over the third quarter, out scoring the Braves 14-5. Emerson tallied 21, Barth 15 in the victory. Parker Johnson had seven points, four rebounds, three steals and four assists. He also saved more than a few plays by keeping the ball in bounds. The game was marred by fouls — 37 were called.

The Cats need to work on rebounding and taking care of the ball, Finberg noted.

“I know we can play better,” he said. “We have some improving to do.”

Like the girls, the boys will have a long break and then face Eureka at home Jan. 6. Game time is 7:30 p.m. On Jan. 7 they start conference play with an away game against Libby.

Columbia Falls 4 15 15 10 - 44

Sentinel 14 8 8 11 - 41

Columbia Falls - Nick Emerson 6-13 1-2 14, Kaleb Johnson 3-4 1-2 7, Austin Barth 2-6 1-2 5, Devyn Rocker 0-1 1-2 1, Parker Johnson 4-7 0-1 9, Chris King 2-3 0-0 4, Jacob Calderwood 1-1 0-1 2, Cale Vukonich 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-3 4-10 44.

Missoula - Derek Colberg 0-2 2-2 2, Riley King 4-9 1-2 9, Fischer Worden 6-9 2-2 14, Zack Murphy 1-4 0-0 3, Brad Corntassel 0-2 0-0 0, Nathan Jewett 2-6 2-4 6, Alec Bray 3-6 0-0 8, Conner Anderson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-37 7-10 41.

Columbia Falls 10 15 14 19 - 58

Flathead 11 13 5 11 - 40

Columbia Falls - Nick Emerson 10 1-1 21, Chris King 3 0-3 6, Anthony Correa 0 1-2 1, Parker Johnson 2 1-2 7, Austin Barth 7 1-3 15, Kaleb Johnson 2 2-5 6, Jacob Calderwood 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 6-16 58.

Flathead - Mike VanArendonk 1 1-2 3, Matt McLean 1 2-2 5, Ian Gillespie 4 1-2 9, Cameron Robertson 0 1-2 1, Joe Pistorese 3 0-0 6, George Sherwood 2 8-12 12, Scotty Keller 2 0-0 4.Totals 13 13-20 40.