Kats thump Libby to close unbeaten in conference

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team ended the regular season with a drubbing of the Libby Lady Loggers last week at home.

Three Wildkats finished in double figures in the 64-18 romp on Feb. 21. Freshman Cydney Finberg had a great game with 15 points, six assists and three steals. Haley Belgarde had 14 points and seven rebounds, and Winter Kemppainen had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Coach Cary Finberg said he was very pleased with the way the girls wrapped up the season, particularly the guards who had 12 assists and just three turnovers.

The Kats finished the season at 8-0 in conference play and 17-1 overall as they head into the divisional tournament on Friday.

The Kats have a first-round bye and then face the winner of the Polson-Whitefish tournament game at Glacier High School in Kalispell on Friday at 3 p.m.

“We just need to play one game at a time and take care of business on Friday,” Finberg said.

The championship game is Saturday at 6 p.m. If the tournament plays out as expected, the Kats should face Frenchtown in the final game. Last year, Frenchtown beat the Kats in the final, and the Kats needed to beat Polson in a challenge game to make it to the state tournament. But this girls team is much improved over last year’s squad.

Libby 2 7 7 2 – 18

C. Falls 14 18 20 12 – 64

LIBBY – Shyla Stevenson 9, Hailey Moe 1, Taylor Quinn 6, Devyn Gallagher 2.

COLUMBIAFALLS – Summer Burlage 7, Ciera Finberg 4, Cydney Finberg 15, Ellie Johnson 2, Andrea Getts 2, Winter Kemppainen 12, Kiara Burlage 8, Haley Belgarde 14.