The Columbia Falls Wildcats, paced by senior Alex Presnell’s game-high 14 points, defeated Polson 62-48  in the semifinals of the Northwestern A Divisional basketball tournament at Glacier High School on Saturday night.

Columbia Falls outscored Polson 28-18 in the first half and didn’t allow the Pirates to score in double-figures in either of the first two quaters.

The Wildcats held off Polson’s 20-point fourth-quarter to hang on for a 14-point victory and a chance to win their sixth consecutive Northwestern A title.  

It was a solid night offensively for the Wildcats as nine different players scored in the contest.

Senior forward Jared Trinastich scored in double-figures, adding 13 points for Columbia Falls (15-4) before fouling out.

The Pirates, now in the consolation semifinals, were led by senior guard Cedrick Smith who scored 13 points and went 5-6 from the free throw line. Freshman Matthew Rensvold tallied nine points, while senior Andrew Weltz and freshman Tanner Wilson scored eight points each.

Polson’s Andrew Curly and Jacob Harrod each hit a 3-pointer, Curly finishing with seven points and Harrod with three.

The Wildcats will shoot for a six-peat of the Northwestern A Divisional tournament, when they face Whitefish in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. today.

Polson will play in the third-place game against the winner of Frenchtown and Libby who play at 10:30 a.m.

Polson    8    9    11    20    —    48

Columbia Falls    16    12    16    18    —    62

POLSON - Cedrick Smith 4 5-6 13, Andrew Weltz 1 6-12 8, Jacob Harrod 1 0-0 3, Andrew Curley 3 0-0 7, Tanner Wilson 3 0-0 8, Matthew Rensvold 3 3-4 9. Totals 15 14-22 48.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Alex Presnell 4 4-6 14, Trevor Houston 1 0-0 2, Grant Stenger 1 1-4 3, Jayce Fagerland 2 2-2 7, Nakia Alexander 3 1-1 7, Ty Morgan 2 3-5 7, Mason Gedlaman 2 3-4 7, Jared Trinastich 5 2-2 13, Grant Wallace 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 16-22 62.

3-point goals - Polson 4 (Wilson 2, Curley, Harrod); Columbia Falls 4 (Presnell 2, Trinastich, Fagerland); Team fouls - Polson 16, Columbia Falls 12. Fouled out - Trinastich, Wilson.

Whitefish 56,

Frenchtown 51

The Whitefish Bulldogs escaped with a narrow 56-51 victory over Frenchtown on Saturday night to advance to the Northwestern A Divisional championship.

Frenchtown’s John Champman’s game-high 21 points featured a 3-pointer with 1:27 remaining in the game to cut the Broncs’ deficit to three, but the Bulldogs held Frenchtown to just one point in the final stretch to hold on for the win.

Garret Anderson led all Whitefish scorers with 16 points, and Keaton Nicholson chipped in 12 for the Bulldogs.

Frenchtown will face Libby in the consolation bracket today at 10:30 a.m.

Whitefish plays Columbia Falls in the title game with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Frenchtown    8    19    11    13    —    51

Whitefish    11    15    17    13    —    56

FRENCHTOWN - John Chapman 5 7-10 21, Quintin Mazzola 1 0-0 2, Chris Delaney 2 2-4 6, Andrew Honken 2 0-0 4, Bridger Truett 5 0-2 12, Jordan Moe 3 0-0 6. Totals 18 9-16 51.

WHITEFISH - Keaton Nicholson 4 2-3 12, AJ Wetsch 2 1-2 6, Cody Olson 0 2-2 2, Alex Wilson 2 3-4 7, EJ Havens 3 0-0 8, Arthur Doorn 2 1-1 5, Garrett Anderson 7 2-4 16. Totals 20 11-16 56.

3-pointers - Frenchtown 6 (Chapman 4, Truett 2); Whitefish 5 (Nicholson 2, Havens 2, Wetsch); Team fouls - Frenchtown 15, Whitefish 15.