Clark Fork Mountain Cats enjoy 3-0 week

It was a busy and productive week for the Clark Fork boys basketball team.

They completed a three-game odyssey with wins over Philipsburg, Charlo, and an overtime thriller versus 14C member Plains (see story).

The Tuesday night game against once-beaten Philipsburg looked to be the main challenge of the trifecta facing the Mountain Cats.

Indeed, Philipsburg, AKA Granite, AKA Flint Creek depending on the sport and season, came in looking for gold as the Prospectors jumped out to an early 15-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

But Clark Fork fought back against the Miners from Granite County, outscoring them 16-10 to close to within two, 25-23, at the end of the first half.

With the Mountain Cats senior trio working hard inside and outside, Clark Fork shaved another point from that halftime lead, and trailed by one, 37-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Clark Fork trio, forwards Carson Callison and Aaron Waddle, along with point guard Bryan Mask all scored in double figures as the Cats overcame the Prospectors third quarter lead, out-pointing the visitors 17-11 in the final eight minutes of play to secure a 53-48 win.

Waddle scored 20 points to lead the Mountain Cats attack, sharing the game-high honor with Philipsburg’s Brian Ward. Callison chipped in 16 points and Mask added 10 to aid the Clark Fork victory.

Two nights later the Mountain Cats traveled to take on 14C foe Charlo. Buoyed by the return of junior forward Anthony Mueller, the Mountain Cats clawed out a 20-7 first quarter lead on their way to a 29-19 edge at halftime.

The Cats continued to build on their 10-point intermission lead by outscoring Charlo 13-9 in the third and tacking on a 23-15 cushion in the final quarter on their way to a 65-43 win in the second leg of their three-game week.

Callison led all scorers with 22 points, while Mask threw in 14. Waddle scored 10, a total matched by Mueller, who returned from injuries.

The Vikings were led by Roper Edwards’ 17 points.