Clark Fork Mountain Cats defeat St. Regis, 68-57

The Clark Fork boys basketball team solidified its hold on the top spot in Western 14C with a 68-57 road win over St. Regis Saturday.

Entering the week, the Mountain Cats held a one-game lead over upstart Hot Springs in the 14C race. Exiting the weekend, Clark Fork not only maintained, but strengthened their grip on the top spot with district playoffs looming.

Clark Fork led 21-20 after one quarter. Mountain Cat sophomore Orion Plaake emerged as a key player, dropping in two of the 3-pointers his team had.

St. Regis senior Andrew Sanford was instrumental in clogging Clark Fork’s inside game with his wingspan-assisted defense and rebounding.

The Tigers also had some outside firepower of the own as junior forward Tanner Day rained in two bombs.

But things changed early in the second quarter when Sanford was saddled with his third foul, forcing him to the bench on a night when the referee’s whistle filled the air.

The Mountain Cats took advantage, as Clark Fork senior Carson Callison took control of the inside game with ample help from Aaron Waddle, a burly, hard-charging senior forward. Callison added four points to the six he scored in the first quarter and also tilted the rebounding factor Clark Fork’s way.

Mountain Cats senior point guard Bryan Mask hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points in the second quarter.

But St. Regis countered with another pair of 3s from Day and six points from standout sophomore guard Caleb Ball, who had suffered a knee injury the night before in the Tigers battle with Hot Springs.

Ball, who appeared to be close to full strength, was also a thorn in the Cats side with some steals. Along with help from his older brother, junior Adam Ball, the Tigers were able to battle through Sanford’s foul trouble.

At halftime the score was knotted at 28.

Sanford was back on the court for the start of the second half, but just over one minute into the third quarter he was called for his fourth foul, sending him back to the bench.

For the night, a total of 33 fouls were called, with the number nearly evenly split among the two combatants.

With Sanford on the sideline, the Mountain Cats took control.

Clark Fork forward Danner Haskins led the Cats offensive outburst with a pair of 3s and a total of eight points in the third. Callison continued his strong game with another six points, mostly inside shots as the Mountain Cats defense shut down St. Regis on their way to a 19-6 third quarter advantage and a 47-34 lead going into the fourth quarter.

With Caleb Ball sidelined for the final eight minutes of play, two nights of hard, fast basketball and a sore knee had taken a toll, both teams traded baskets to close out what had been a high-tempo, rock-and-roll meeting.

Mask, who fouled out with just over four minutes remaining in the game, finished the night with 14 points. He was joined in double-figure scoring by Callison who tallied 16, Plaake with 10 and Haskins, who had a team-high 19.

Game scoring honors went to the Tigers’ Day, who piled up 24 points. Sanford threw in 13 and Caleb Ball added 10 for St. Regis.

The win boosted Clark Fork to a 7-0 conference mark and 8-1 overall. Next up for Clark Fork is a road game against Plains Friday, followed by a home contest with Charlo Saturday.

St. Regis slipped to 4-3 in 14C play and 6-3 on the year. It travels to Noxon Friday.