Kats beat Braves, but lose to Sentinel

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team split the AA bill last week, downing Flathead Thursday night 47-29 at home, but losing to Missoula Sentinel 63-38 away Saturday.

The Kats used a tenacious defense to keep Kalispell in check, forcing 19 turnovers in a game that sometimes had the feel of a wrestling match as the ball was on the floor so often.

Kayla DeWit led the Kats with 17 points and sister Kelsey scored 16. Shay Grilley had six.

Against Sentinel the girls started the first quarter with an 8-2 lead, but the Spartans surged ahead and never looked back in a game that wasn't close. Kayla DeWit had 17 and Kelsey had 12 to lead the Kats in scoring. Sentinel had a 19-point lead at the half and widened the lead by 10 points in the second half.

"We played real well against Flathead in the first half," coach Dan Fairbank said. The Kats also started out well against Sentinel, but once the Spartans started knocking down threes, the Kats' game plan faltered. Sentinel hit eight threes and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc, Fairbank noted.

The Kats will practice during the break and then will face AA opponent Big Sky at home Jan. 2. Gametime is 4 p.m.