Lady Bulldogs finish 1-2 at divisionals
By CHRIS TUCKER - Whitefish Pilot
The Whitefish girls fought a trio of tough games at the Northwestern A divisional basketball tournament this week in Eureka, winning decisively over Libby but narrowly losing subsequent games to Columbia Falls and Polson. They end the year with a 8-13 record.
Against the Lady Loggers last Thursday, Whitefish ended the first frame in a tie but dominated the second quarter, out scoring Libby by 14 points to end the half 25-11 and going on to win the game, 53-35.
Lady Bulldog Kate Klundt led scoring with 14 points, and teammate Dana Labuda scored 13.
On Friday, the girls were looking for a win over cross-valley rival Columbia Falls and nearly found it, beating the Wildkats in every one of the first three quarters to end the third ahead 43-36.
But in the fourth quarter, the Whitefish girls had a tougher time as Columbia Falls rallied to tie the game at 58 points and then pulled ahead to defeat Whitefish 65-61 in overtime.
"One bounce could have changed the whole season for us," coach Tim Olson said of the final minutes of the Wildkats game.
Ashley Ferda scored 25 points against C-Falls, shot 7-8 at the free-throw line and drained two three-pointers. Klundt scored 10, and Labuda scored seven.
The Lady Bulldogs lost their final game on Saturday against Polson, 50-60.
Overall in the tournament, Bigfork took first, Columbia Falls was second, Libby was third and Polson was fourth.
Libby 8 3 13 11 — 35
Whitefish 8 17 18 10 — 53
LIBBY — Brooke Hageness 1 0-0 2, Sherry Robinson 0 1-2 1, Holly Cirian 1 0-0 2, Korey Kulbeck 1 0-0 2, Brittany Martin 3 0-0 6, Laice Dedrick 2 3-6 7, Jackie Mee 4 3-3 12, Ashley Brossman 0 1-2 1, Nichole Newman 0 2-2 2. Totals 12 10-15 35.
WHITEFISH — Kirsten Blackburn 1 0-2 2, Kaitlin O'Leary 2 0-0 4, Ashley Ferda 2 1-2 5, Kali Schmidt 2 0-0 5, Desiree Clarke 2 0-0 4, Dana Labuda 6 1-1 13, Kate Klundt 4 6-7 14, Chelsea Ray 2 0-0 4, Torie Powell 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 8-12 53.
3-point goals — Libby 1 (Mee). Whitefish 1 (Schmidt).
C-Falls 13 8 15 22 7 — 65
Whitefish 15 10 18 15 3 — 61
COLUMBIA FALLS — Callie Spencer 5 5-8 15, Amber Lampman 2 2-4 6, Jessica Boyer 2 1-2 5, Mary Nolan 3 12-15 18, Alyssa Ladenburg 4 3-5 11, Sam Ladenburg 5 0-4 10. Totals 21 23-38 65.
WHITEFISH — Kaitlin O'Leary 1 2-2 4, Ashley Ferda 8 7-8 25, Kali Schmidt 1 0-0 3, Desiree Clarke 1 3-5 5, Dana Labuda 2 3-4 7, Kate Klundt 4 2-2 10, Chelsea Ray 3 1-2 7. Totals 20 18-23 61.
3-point goals — Whitefish 3 (Ferda 2, Schmidt).
Polson 15 6 16 23 — 60
Whitefish 9 13 4 24 — 50
POLSON — Brittany Gardner 2 0-0 4, Amanda James 3 7-9 14, Jessica Buckless 2 4-6 8, Merilee Mowbray 2 3-4 7, Jaelin Vandeberg 1 3-6 6, Lisa Mathias 2 5-14 9, Sarah Newton 2 5-6 9, Cali Hislop 0 3-8 3. Totals 14 30-53 60.
WHITEFISH — Kirsten Blackburn 1 1-2 3, Kaitlin O'Leary 1 0-0 2, Ashley Ferda 6 8-9 23, Kali Schmidt 0 3-4 3, Desiree Clarke 1 0-0 3, Kate Klundt 2 5-7 9, Chelsea Ray 2 3-3 7. Totals 13 20-25 50.