Komanec leads Cats to North Star League championship

CLARK FORK — Filling in for injured point guard Shaina Gustafson, Celeste Komanec dropped in a season-high 19 points to help the Wampus Cats beat the Knights Tuesday night in North Star League girls basketball at Clark Fork High School.

Gustafson, arguably the league’s best player, is out 2-3 weeks with a broken shoulder blade. Komanec stepped up and took the game over on an emotional night for the Wampus Cats (13-5, 7-0 NSL), who are the North Star League champs.

“Celeste did an absolute excellent job for us tonight,” said Cats coach Dexter Vogel. “She stepped up and shot the ball when she needed to and just took it into her own hands.”

Vogel is hoping Gustafson can return if the Cats make it to state down the road, where they had hoped to be a contender.

“She’s a tough, tough kid,” he said. “If she can play, she’ll be playing.”

Shannon Miller scored 11 points to lead the Knights (8-10, 6-2 NSL), who were down by 10 in the fourth quarter before making a late run, including a 3-point attempt at the buzzer to tie the game.

Clark Fork is at Kootenai on Saturday.

Lakeside86610—30

Clark Fork481110—33

LAKESIDE — McCully 2, Louie 2, Davis 6, Garcia 4, Jo. Miller 5, Shannon Miller 11.

CLARK FORK — Palmer 0, Vogel 3, McMahon 2, Kailang 0, Macumber 4, Thornton 5, Komanec 19.