Kats finding a way to win, now 4-0

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team isn’t always winning pretty, but they’re finding a way to get the Ws.

The Wildkats beat conference foe Frenchtown 47-43 on Dec. 19 and then two days later rallied to beat Flathead 53-41 at home.

At Frenchtown, the girls were led by Winter Kemppainen, who had 16 points and 9 rebounds to spark the Kats.

Haley Belgarde and Cydney Finberg each had 11 as the Kats were down 19-17 at the break. But Kats racked up 17 points in eight minutes in the third quarter and then held on in the fourth for the conference victory.

Belgarde also had nine rebounds.

Kiara Burlage also had a solid game, with 11 rebounds and four blocks.

The Kats dominated the Bravettes in the first half of the Dec. 21 game, building a 27-18 halftime lead, but Flathead went on a 12-4 run the third quarter, and with 24 seconds left in the stanza, the Kats found their lead trimmed to one.

But the Bravettes made the mistake of leaving the Kats’ outside shooters open in the fourth, and the Kats clamped down on defense as they racked up 23 points.

Ciera Finberg led the team with 15, and her sister Cydney had seven. Belgarde had eight. Belgarde got banged around pretty good under the basket, as Flathead not only fouled, they fouled hard.

Coach Cary Finberg said the Kats had to adjust to the physical play of Flathead. He said the team is playing well, but is letting opponents back in games .

“We have to eliminate those 5-6 minute lulls,” he said.

Even so, the girls have played a pretty difficult schedule so far, and they’ve proven they’re a tough bunch of kids, coach Finberg noted.

The Wildkats are now 4-0.

They’re on the road after the Christmas break, as they face Eureka on Jan. 3.

 

Col. Falls 10 7 17 13 - 47

Frenchtown 6 13 12 12 - 43

COLUMBIA FALLS - Summer Burlage 6, Cydney Finberg 11, Ellie Johnson 2, Winter Kemppainen 16, Kiara Burlage 1, Haley Belgarde 11.

FRENCHTOWN - Emma Pyron 1, Haley Cyr 8, Vanessa Stavish 9, Kayla Blood 7, Alli Moe 5, Keegan Wickman 2, Lacey Hochhalter 11.

 

Flathead 11 7 12 11 - 41

Columbia Falls 15 12 4 23 - 53

FLATHEAD - Emma Andrews 4, Tana Fountain 7, Kelsey Noland-Gillespie 4, Lizzie Sherwood 4, Tiana Johnson 2, Jessica Simmons 3, Jenessa Heine 17.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Summer Burlage 6, Ciera Finberg 15, Cydney Finberg 7, Ellie Johnson 3, Andrea Getts 4, Winter Kemppainen 5, Miranda Livingston 3, Kiara Burlage 2, Haley Belgarde 8.

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team isn’t always winning pretty, but they’re finding a way to get the Ws.

The Wildkats beat conference foe Frenchtown 47-43 on Dec. 19 and then two days later rallied to beat Flathead 53-41 at home.

At Frenchtown, the girls were led by Winter Kemppainen, who had 16 points and 9 rebounds to spark the Kats.

Haley Belgarde and Cydney Finberg each had 11 as the Kats were down 19-17 at the break. But Kats racked up 17 points in eight minutes in the third quarter and then held on in the fourth for the conference victory.

Belgarde also had nine rebounds.

Kiara Burlage also had a solid game, with 11 rebounds and four blocks.

The Kats dominated the Bravettes in the first half of the Dec. 21 game, building a 27-18 halftime lead, but Flathead went on a 12-4 run the third quarter, and with 24 seconds left in the stanza, the Kats found their lead trimmed to one.

But the Bravettes made the mistake of leaving the Kats’ outside shooters open in the fourth, and the Kats clamped down on defense as they racked up 23 points.

Ciera Finberg led the team with 15, and her sister Cydney had seven. Belgarde had eight. Belgarde got banged around pretty good under the basket, as Flathead not only fouled, they fouled hard.

Coach Cary Finberg said the Kats had to adjust to the physical play of Flathead. He said the team is playing well, but is letting opponents back in games .

“We have to eliminate those 5-6 minute lulls,” he said.

Even so, the girls have played a pretty difficult schedule so far, and they’ve proven they’re a tough bunch of kids, coach Finberg noted.

The Wildkats are now 4-0.

They’re on the road after the Christmas break, as they face Eureka on Jan. 3.

Col. Falls 10 7 17 13 - 47

Frenchtown 6 13 12 12 - 43

COLUMBIA FALLS - Summer Burlage 6, Cydney Finberg 11, Ellie Johnson 2, Winter Kemppainen 16, Kiara Burlage 1, Haley Belgarde 11.

FRENCHTOWN - Emma Pyron 1, Haley Cyr 8, Vanessa Stavish 9, Kayla Blood 7, Alli Moe 5, Keegan Wickman 2, Lacey Hochhalter 11.

Flathead 11 7 12 11 - 41

Columbia Falls 15 12 4 23 - 53

FLATHEAD - Emma Andrews 4, Tana Fountain 7, Kelsey Noland-Gillespie 4, Lizzie Sherwood 4, Tiana Johnson 2, Jessica Simmons 3, Jenessa Heine 17.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Summer Burlage 6, Ciera Finberg 15, Cydney Finberg 7, Ellie Johnson 3, Andrea Getts 4, Winter Kemppainen 5, Miranda Livingston 3, Kiara Burlage 2, Haley Belgarde 8.