Boys hoops getting the little things done, on a roll
CHRIS PETERSON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 hours, 20 minutes AGO
Bjorn Pedersen works his way past a couple Pirate Defenders for a layup in the 4th quarter of a Wildcat win at home. Seth Anderson Photo.
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 [email protected] or 406-892-2151. | February 18, 2026 6:00 AM
The roll continues.
The Columbia Falls boys basketball team racked up a three key conference wins in the past week, dropping Polson 58-46 Feb. 10 and then Browning a couple days later 50-38. On Tuesday, they roughed up Whitefish 63-47.
Against the Pirates, Bjorn Pedersen had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead the squad, while Jory Hill had 13 points and four assists. Easton Brooks had 11.
The Cats had 38 rebounds in the win, 24 on defense.
Against Browning, the Cats once again dominated the boards with 34 rebounds.
Pedersen had 16 points, Hill 15 in the win. Hill also had seven rebounds, as the Cats came back to win the game in the second half after they were down 33-27 at the end of the third. They went on a 23-5 run and Hill hit eight free throws in a row to ice it.
“We’re doing the little things (to win),” coach Chris Finberg said. “Hopefully we can keep that going.”
On Tuesday against the Bulldogs, Hill had 17 to lead the Cats. Pedersen 11.
They wrap up the regular season Friday on the road against Bigfork.
The Cats are 9-2 in conference play and 13-4 overall.
The best they can do is second in the conference unless Libby somehow manages to upset Ronan.
The Ronan holds the tiebreaker as the two teams split in the regular season, but the Chiefs beat the Cats by 6 and the Cats beat Ronan by 3.
Like the girls, there’s a lot of parity in the state and the divisional tourney should be a row.
“It’s what you want,” Finberg noted.
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