Cats upended by Tigers

MULLAN — Clark Fork erased a 15 point deficit, but could not finish the comeback attempt, falling 36-30 to Mullan Wednesday night in the 1A Division II boys basketball tournament at the Mullan Pavilion, ending the Wampus Cats season.

Zack Klein poured in a game-high 17 points, and Stillman Berkley had a big game with eight points and 15 rebounds to lead the Wampus Cats (5-12), who cut the lead to 27-26 at one point but could get no closer.

“I was really proud of the way my kids fought hard and came back tonight,” said Clark Fork head coach Corey Vogel. “At one point we were down by 15. We gained the momentum and got within one but just made too many mistakes late in the fourth.”

Mullan’s Trevor Henderson drove to the bucket and scored to give Mullan a 31-27 advantage with the clock running down in the fourth quarter. Mullan (4-15) made its free throws down the stretch to put the game away, earning the right to face Kootenai on Friday for the lone state berth.

“We really preached not letting them (Clark Fork) run on us at practice yesterday,” said Mullan coach Corey Miller. “I think we did a good job staying in the half court and controlling the tempo.”

Clark Fork  2   6   11   11 — 30

Mullan         9   9    8   10 — 36  

    CLARK FORK — N. Nesbitt 1, Berkley 8, Katzenberg 0, Klein 17, Jackson 2, Anderson 2, Z. Nesbitt 0.

    MULLAN—Trev. Henderson 11, Kotschevar 9, Trogden 6.