Kats extend winning streak to 7

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team extended their winning streak to seven games last week. On Jan. 10 at home, they pounded Polson 69-21. Then they edged a much tougher Bigfork squad 48-41 the next day on the road.

Against Polson, the girls shot out to a 19-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Wildkats forced 31 Lady Pirate turnovers while only committing eight themselves.

The Kats were led by Haley Belgarde with 14 points. Sisters Ciera and Cydney Finberg each had 11 points. Ciera also had four assists and no turnovers. Belgarde had three steals.

Against Bigfork the girls started out shooting cold, just 2 for 23 from the field, but their defense kept them in the game.

The Kats also got a huge boost off the bench from freshman Kiara Burlage, who had 10 points.

Down by as many as nine points, the Kats rallied to take a 15-point lead in the second half. Winter Kemppainen led the team with 11 points and nine rebounds. Burlage also had six boards.

“We’re getting a lot of contributions from a lot of different players,” coach Cary Finberg said. “They’re playing together and believing in each other.”

Finberg said the girls are also playing defense from the opening tip. They’ve held opponents to less than 20 points in the first half in all but one game.

The Wildkats travel to Glacier High School on Thursday and then face Whitefish at home Saturday. The Glacier game will be their toughest test of the season.

“The Glacier girls are very good,” Finberg said.

But he notes that if the Kats play defense like they have, they should be right in it.

The Glacier game has a 6 p.m. start. The Whitefish game starts at 5.

Columbia Falls 6 10 12 20 — 48

Bigfork 11 7 6 17 — 41

COLUMBIA FALLS — Summer Burlage 2, Ciera Finberg 6, Cydney Finberg 5, Ellie Johnson 6, Andrea Getts 4, Winter Kemppainen 11, Miranda Livingston 1, Kiara Burlage 10, Haley Belgarde 3.

BIGFORK — Marissa Hizza 2, Riley Coleman 3, Mattison McAnally 9, Lana Berg 5, Josie Spoklie 11, Kallister Meagher 3, Tessa Robertson 8.

Polson 6 1 4 10 — 21

Columbia Falls 25 14 18 12 — 69

POLSON — Skyla Krantz 4, Jaylin Kenney 2, Jessica Bagnell 2, Nicole Lake 3, Dylan Quinn 2, Kaelen Wall 2, Shelbi Mallon 2, Monika Frame 4.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Ciera Finberg 11, Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 11, Ellie Johnson 6, Winter Kemppainen 6, Miranda Livingston 1, Kiara Burlage 6, Allison Gimbel 6, Haley Belgarde 14, Peyton Kehr 6.