Cats drop Hamilton in first home game
CHRIS PETERSON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 2 weeks AGO
Chris Peterson is the editor of the Hungry Horse News. He covers Columbia Falls, the Canyon, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. All told, about 4 million acres of the best parts of the planet. He can be reached at editor@hungryhorsenews.com or 406-892-2151. | January 15, 2025 8:10 AM
The nice thing about the Columbia Falls boys basketball team is this: Any player with the ball in his hands can score.
The Wildcats proved that point last week as they used a balanced attack in two wins, dropping Frenchtown 60-52 on the road Thursday and then Hamilton 60-38 at home Saturday.
The Wildcats had four players in double figures against Frenchtown and nine scored in the drubbing of Hamilton.
Reggie Sapa led the team with 12 against Hamilton and against Frenchtown, Easton Brooks had 11, Jory Hill 10, Bjorn Pedersen 9, Sapa 10, Cooper Ross 9, Grady Hutton 10.
Against Hamilton, it was more of the same, as Brooks had 7, Stanley Stremick 6, Jory Hill 7, Pedersen 8, Sapa 12, Nico Young 2, Ross 9, Hutton 7, and Silas Ypma 2.
That kind of scoring makes it hard for opponents to defend, coach Chris Finberg said and they’re working together as a team.
“No one’s really caring who is scoring,” he said.
The Cats have been moving the ball well and also playing solid defense. Against Hamilton, the Broncs were just 12-of-44 shooting.
The Cats also out-rebounded them 33-25.
Against Frenchtown, they were down 14-7, came back with a 19 point lead to start the fourth and then held on for the win.
The boys travel to Ronan Thursday at 4 p.m. and then travel to Bigfork Saturday. They’re now 5-1 overall.
Hamilton 11 5 13 9 - 38
Col. Falls 11 15 17 17 - 60
HAMILTON — Kaden Gum 2, Jake McCarthy 3, Asher Griffin 2, Landon Wetzel 3, Canaan Magness 11, Tyler Jette 17.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Easton Brooks 7, Stanley Stremick 6, Jory Hill 7, Bjorn Pedersen 8, Reggie Sapa 12, Nico Young 2, Cooper Ross 9, Grady Hutton 7, Silas Ypma 2.
C-Falls 11 16 20 13 - 60
Frenchtown 14 8 8 21 - 52
COLUMBIA FALLS — Easton Brooks 11, Jory Hill 10, Bjorn Pedersen 9, Reggie Sapa 10, Cooper Ross 9, Grady Hutton 10, Silas Ypma 1.
FRENCHTOWN — Layton Cyr 6, Jackson Haines 3, Cooper Michaud 5, Connor Klimpel 3, Brooks Day 6, Hank Smith 20, Henry Griffin 9.
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