Wildkats start season hot

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team opened their season with a bang last week. The Wildkats dropped Anaconda 64-22 on Dec. 13 at the Northwest-Southwest Class A Tip-Off Tournament and then beat Hamilton 48-34 the next day.

In the Hamilton game, the Kats held the Lady Broncs to just three points in the first half, as they ran off to a 18-3 halftime lead. Hamilton shot just two for 33 from behind the arc.

“Our defense obviously had something to do with it,” coach Cary Finberg said.

The Wildkats utilized their length to make shots more difficult. The girls also outrebounded the Lady Broncs 49-26. Hamilton was supposed to be one of the better teams in the state.

Senior Haley Belgarde had a great weekend, racking up 20 points against the Copperheads and 10 against the Broncs. Junior Ellie Johnson had 10 points, six rebounds and four steals against the Broncs, and Winter Kemppainen had 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Copperheads.

“Defensively, we’re very active and we’re going to cause some tough shooting,” Finberg said.

The Kats also outrebounded the Copperheads 53-35. Guard Ciera Finberg had nine points and five rebounds versus Anaconda. Anytime a guard grabs several boards a game, that’s good thing.

“We’ve got a lot of different people stepping up and contributing,” Finberg noted.

The Kats held the Copperheads to just five points in the second and third quarters and just two points in the fourth.

The games were played in Polson and Ronan respectively.

The girls will travel to Frenchtown on Thursday and will play at home Saturday against the Flathead Lady Braves, with a varsity start at 5:30 p.m.

Like the boys, the girls really need a win against conference foe Frenchtown. They’ll be a good test for this young team.

Hamilton 2 1 17 14 - 34

Columbia Falls 9 9 17 13 - 48

HAMILTON - Jaylee Albert 13, Brianna Huggans 8, Taylor Goligoski 7, Eellie Hurlbert 2, Kali Hayes 2, Sami Kratofil 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Haley Belgarde 10, Ellie Johnson 10, Winter Kemppainen 9, Andrea Getts 6, Cydney Finberg 5, Ciera Finberg 4, Summer Burlage 2, Allyson Gimbel 2.

Anaconda 10 5 5 2 - 22

C. Falls 12 17 24 11 - 64

ANACONDA - C. Moodry 9, T. Flynn 6, K. Knadler 3, M. Huber 2, S. Forsberg 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Haley Belgarde 20, Winter Kemppainen 14, Ciera Finberg 9, Ellie Johnson 8, Miranda Livingston 4, Andrea Getts 4, Kiara Burlage 3, Cyndey Finberg 2.