The Glacier boys pressed and ran past Columbia Falls, using their size and athleticism to run away with a non-conference win at home.
The Wolfpack opened the game on a 14-4 run and closed the first quarter with nine-straight points to take a 25-10 lead after the first eight minutes.
Columbia Falls began to find its form in the second quarter but another strong finish to a quarter from the Wolfpack saw Glacier take an 11-0 run and a 52-26 lead into the half.
“We challenged them to start fast. I thought they had a great start to the game,” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said.
“I liked their intensity as they came out. We tried the pressure defense and I thought they executed that real well.”
The Wildcats built some momentum out of the halftime break, scoring the first nine points of the third quarter behind a pair of 3s from Dakota Bridwell and Nathan Riley. Columbia Falls was able to cut the lead to 14points with 3:52 left in the quarter before Glacier could mount a response.
Glacier picked up its effort on defense, forcing three steals as it got back into transition and closed the quarter with a 20-point lead.
The Wolfpack made five 3-pointers in the final quarter, led by two from senior reserve Jake Norberg, and held Columbia Falls to eight points in the fourth quarter to pad its victory.
“I was really pleased with our guys in the fourth quarter,” Harkins said. “They got back going nd got the lead back.” Norberg finished with a game-high five 3s to lead Glacier with 15 points and four rebounds. Tadan Gilman had 13 points, Jake Willich scored 12 and Dylan Ruggles had 11.
Riley led Columbia Falls with 19 points, shooting 5 of 9 from deep. Bridwell and Logan Stephens each scored 11 points.
Glacier plays at Great Falls today and Columbia Falls hosts Frenchtown.
C. Falls 10 16 21 8 — 55
Glacier 25 27 15 19 — 86
COLUMBIA FALLS—Nathan Riley 7-13 0-0 19, Austin Green 1-3 1-2 4, Tyler Murphy 2-3 2-2 6, Dakota Bridwell 4-10 2-2 11, Logan Stephens 2-5 5-5 11, Kyler Burns 1-1 0-0 2, Matthew Morrison 1-1 0-1 2. Totals:18-38 10-12 55.
GLACIER—Noah Lindsay 2-6 0-0 4, Jake Willich 5-6 0-2 12, Dylan Ruggles 3-4 5-5 11, John Learn 1-5 1-2 3, Tadan Gilman 6-9 0-2 13, Caden Harkins 1-2 0-02, Collin Kazmier 0-0 2-2 2, Drake Dulin 2-3 4-4 8, Brec Rademacher 1-1 0-0 3, Pat O’Connell 3-5 0-0 6, Jake Norberg 5-9 0-0 15, Torin Bowden 3-3 0-0 7. Totals: 32-53 12-17 86.
3-point goals—CF 9 -22 (Riley 5), Glacier 10-17 (Norberg 5). Rebounds—CF 14 (Murphy 6), Glacier 25 (Learn 4, Norberg 4). Assists—CF 11 (Green 4, Bridwell 4), Glacier 21 (Ruggles 6). Blocks—CF 1 (Morrison), Glacier 1 (Bowden). Steals—CF 4 (Green 2), Glacier 16 (Lindsay 4). Personal fouls—CF15, Glacier 15. Fouled out—none. Technical fouls—none.
Story from The Daily Interlake by Joseph Terry