Kats drop a pair

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team dropped two non-conference games last week, losing to class AA Glacier 63-46 at home and then class B Loyola away Saturday 49-36.

The girls played a solid first quarter against the Wolfpack and had a 16-12 lead mid-way through the second quarter. But then the turnover bug bit the Wildkats in a big way. Glacier capitalized on the Wildkat errors and had a 31-24 lead at the half. After that, the Kats never were able to mount a comeback.

The Kats had 37 turnovers against the Wolfpack.

“It’s pretty tough to win a game (with that many turnovers),” coach Dan Fairbank said.

At Loyola it was a similar game. The girls led in the first quarter and had a 24-23 lead at the half, but failed to score at all in the fourth quarter.

The turnover bug struck again, Fairbank noted. The team had 17 in the game, but 10 were in the final stanza.

Kayla DeWit led the team with 16 points against the Wolfpack and 17 against Loyola. The girls are now 4-6 overall.

The team will try to right the ship this week as they travel to class B Thompson Falls Thursday and class AA Missoula Big Sky Saturday.

“We’ve got to work on our pressure defense and step it up,” Fairbank said.

Glacier 12 19 18 14 - 63

Col. Falls 13 11 11 11 - 46

GLACIER - Nicole Heavirland 5, Rachel Chery 2, Paige Latimer 13, Cami Mathison 4, Cassidy Hashley 12, Baylee Quay 8, Patty Hughes 11, Ashlee Waggener 6, Tiffany Marks 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Kayla Stratton 2, Danielle Gilley 4, Kayla DeWit 16, Allie Lampman 3, Hope Burlage 10, Jonna Werner 9, Erin Hill 1.

Columbia Falls 11 13 12 0 - 36

Loyola 9 14 10 16 - 49

COLUMBIA FALLS - Kayla DeWit 17, Jonna Werner 11, Hope Burlage 6, Shaun Rowe 2.

LOYOLA - Alex Anderson 18, Kiernan Haggarty 7, Taylor Galiher 7, Ashley Medeiros 6, Maddie Mansch 5, Maggie Crippen 2, Sam Manley 2, Maddy Malsam 2.