Cats come out on top against Pirates

COLUMBIA FALLS - The conference championship was on the line.

Friday night. The No. 1 team in the state, Columbia Falls, was

hosting the No. 5 team, Polson, and seeking revenge for a loss

suffered in Pirate Country just a few weeks ago. More than 2,000

people had packed into the gym and created enough noise to cause

the floor to shake.

COLUMBIA FALLS - The conference championship was on the line. Friday night. The No. 1 team in the state, Columbia Falls, was hosting the No. 5 team, Polson, and seeking revenge for a loss suffered in Pirate Country just a few weeks ago. More than 2,000 people had packed into the gym and created enough noise to cause the floor to shake.

Forget a scene from Hoosiers, this was reserved for rivalries like Duke-UNC.

"That's what we play for," Pirates head coach Brad Pluff said of the game's atmosphere. "It felt more like a tournament game."

The Wildcats had the memory of a 59-52 loss on Feb. 5 in Polson - Columbia Falls' only loss of the season - fresh on their minds.

Polson had the conference title within their grasp, but a stifling press in the fourth quarter took it away. The Wildcats outscored the Pirates 11-2 in the final eight minutes for the 34-29 win and the title. Senior Louis Mohr scored 10 to lead the Pirates; fellow senior Kyle Bagnell added seven.

"Our defense in the second half was huge. That's what kept us in the game," Columbia Falls head coach Cary Finberg told the Daily Inter Lake. "Luckily we made enough plays offensively there at the end to pull it out."

Both teams had poor shooting nights, and scored well below their season average.

"When we hold a team to 34 points, we expect to win,"

Pluff said. "We missed some shots we normally make."

Polson took the early 10-6 lead after the first quarter and extended it to a 21-13 lead at halftime. In the second half, they were held to just eight points as Columbia Falls made a 12-0 run in the third quarter that ratcheted up the pressure.

"The third quarter was definitely big for us. We got the momentum swinging our way," Columbia Falls senior Nick Emerson told the Inter Lake.

Still, Polson held the 28-23 lead going in the fourth quarter but could only muster two points against the Wildcats press. Columbia Falls came back, but it wasn't without a tenacious fight with the Pirates'

defense. They couldn't get a tie, 27-27, until halfway through the quarter, and they finally took a lead with 3:05 left in the game.

It's that kind of fight when everything isn't going right that is a positive sign heading into divisionals.

"Those kind of games are good for both teams," Pluff said.

Columbia Falls has to be wary of reveling in this win because they had a 32-4 advantage in free throw shots.

The Pirates turned the ball over 24 times as well.

"You can't do that against a team like Columbia Falls," Pluff said. "For us to overcome those things and for it to be close at the end says a lot for our team."

And with both teams heading into divisionals with very high aspirations, this epic game was merely round two.

"I felt good with the way we came in and played them," Pluff told the Inter Lake. "If that's the best team in the state we know we can play with anybody in the state. And I think they are the best team. Until somebody beats them that's the team to beat. Hopefully we get another shot next Saturday (at divisionals)."

Columbia Falls 34, Polson 29

Polson - 10 - 11 - 6 - 2 - 29

C-Falls - 6 - 7 - 10 - 11 - 34

Lady Pirates scoring - Louis Mohr 10, Kyle Bagnell 7, Tyler Krell 5, Cody Fischer 4, Zac Camel 3