Kats crush Maidens, Lady Dogs

With a defense that terrorized opponents, the Columbia Falls girls basketball team rolled over Whitefish and Ronan last week.

The Wildkats drubbed the Maidens 61-33 away Feb. 13 and then hammered Whitefish 71-20 two days later.

The Kats utilized a suffocating defense in both games. They held Ronan to just 21 percent shooting and out rebounded them 45-29.

Haley Belgarde had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Winter Kemppainen had 16 points and eight boards.

In the second quarter, the defense of Cydney and Ciera Finberg, Ellie Johnson, Kemppainen and Ally Gimbel held the Maidens to just two points in the second quarter.

“The lineup in the second quarter played great defense,” coach Cary Finberg said.

Against Whitefish, the game was briefly tied at six apiece when the Kats went on a tear, scoring 30 points in the first quarter en route to a romp.

Most of those points came from the defensive effort. The Kats forced 15 Lady Bulldog turnovers in the first quarter alone.

“All 12 players played a ton,” Finberg noted.

They all scored, too. Cydney Finberg led the squad with 12. The Kats had 64 shots to the Lady Dogs’ 21. But Whitefish actually had a better percentage — shooting 44 percent to the Kats’ 39 percent.

But the Kats out rebounded Whitefish 45-15 and forced 29 total turnovers, while only committing seven.

The Kats wrap up the regular season with a home game against Libby on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m. The girls are 7-0 in conference play and 16-1 overall.

“We’re playing very well on both ends,” Finberg said. “The goal is to round into form and finish off on a high note.”

C Falls 30 18 11 12—71

Whitefish 9 3 4 4—20

COLUMBIA FALLS — Summer Burlage 5, Ciera Finberg 2, Sydney Grilley 1, Cydney Finberg 12, Ellie Johnson 2, Andrea Getts 4, Winter Kemppainen 10, Miranda Livingston 2, Kiara Burlage 7, Allyson Gimbel 7, Haley Belgarde 16, Peyton Kehr 3. 

WHITEFISH — Allie Schulz 4, Haley Nicholson 2, Myndi Holbrick 2, Makenna Benbrook 7, Allix Larson 2, Calyn Hitchcock 3.

C Falls 18 17 14 12 – 61

Ronan 10 2 11 10 – 33

COLUMBIA FALLS – Winter Kemppainen 16, Haley Belgarde 11, Ciera Finberg 6, Cydney Finberg 5, Andrea Getts 6, Miranda Livingston 5, Kiara Burlage 6, Ellie Johnson 4, Summer Burlage 2.

RONAN – Aspen Jore 10, Raymi Clairmont 7, Jordyn Clairmont 4, Angela North Piegan 4, Alaina Moadsen 2, Courtney Taylor 2, Hailey O’Hern 2, Lee Camel 2.