Boys should be solid this year

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team has several returning players as they look to make a run to the state tournament.

The Wildcats will rely heavily on Easton Brooks, Bjorn Pedersen and Jory Hill this season.

“It’s a pretty good trio to build your team around,” said head coach Chris Finberg.

Pedersen, a senior, led the team in scoring last year, and Hill and Brooks were key players in last year’s squad as well, particularly down the stretch. Brooks is a senior as well, though Hill, a junior, is expected to be the point guard on most plays.

Pedersen led the team in scoring 

The Cats fell just short last of the state tourney last year, stunned by Ronan in he closing seconds of the game to get knocked out of contention. Overall they had an excellent season, going 16-5.

The Cats will also look for good things from Rhett Lindskoog and Jett Pitts and they hope to have senior Nico Young back by the end of the season as he’s coming off of an injury.

Also look for good contributions from Caleb Mee and Joe West, particularly on defense.

The boys will be tested early this season. They face Dillon and Butte Central in the Northwest-Southwest tip-off tourney Dec. 12-13 and then hit another tourney in Browning in the following weekend where they face Miles City and Hardin.

Their first home game is Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. against Ronan.

Finberg is assisted by Mike Dyon (JV) and Austin Barth (froshmores).