Wildkats drop a pair

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team had a tough week. The Wildkats lost to Bigfork 45-41 in a valiant comeback attempt on Feb. 2 and then to conference rival Polson 48-39 on Feb. 4.

Against the Valkyries, the Wildkats were down by as many as 16, but rallied in the fourth quarter to cut the margin to four with two minutes left. Bigfork then hit some key free throws and shots down the stretch to preserve the win.

The Kats played well defensively but had too many turnovers on the offensive end.

They also had a tough time finding the basket - scoring just four points in the second quarter.

Against the Lady Pirates, the Kats were down by just a point at the half, 19-18, but in the third quarter, Polson outscored the Kats 15-7 to widen the margin.

Haley Belgarde had a good game against Bigfork, scoring 15. Hope Burlage led the team against Polson with 14.

The Kats (4-11, 2-4) travel to Ronan on Friday and Whitefish on Saturday. The Whitefish game has a 4 p.m. scheduled start.

Bigfork 9 12 10 14 - 45

Columbia Falls 7 4 8 22 - 41

BIGFORK - McKinze Shults 2, Shelby Scoggins 5, Taylor Peck 20, Melissa VanDerveer 12, Tessa Robertson 6.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Summer Burlage 3, Tori Price 3, Hope Burlage 4, Madison Sandefer 7, Cortney White 8, Winter Kemppainen 1, Haley Belgarde 15.

Columbia Falls 6 12 7 14 - 39

Polson 9 9 15 15 - 48

COLUMBIA FALLS - Hope Burlage 14, Haley Belgarde 8, Kathryn Jetty 6, Winter Kemppainen 5, Ciera Finberg 2, Tori Price 2, Madison Sandefer 2.

POLSON - Riley Kenney 14, Heidi Rausch 11, Mariah Hamel 10, Mackenzie Banner 6, Hallie Hovenkotter 4, Jordan Quinn 2, Anna DiGiallonardo 1.