Kats rumble into conference play

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team continued plowing through its competition last week.

The Wildkats (6-1) emerged from their holiday break to add convincing home wins against Libby and Whitefish.

Columbia Falls beat the Loggers 48-38 on Jan. 6 and then dominated the Bulldogs on Jan. 7 for a 74-54 victory. The Wildkats also started 2-0 in the Northwestern A conference.

The Wildkats had exceptional performances by their post players.

Senior forwards Danielle Herman and Bekah Stoltz led the team with 12 points each against Libby. Herman scored 20 against Whitefish. Stoltz and senior forward Lindsay Johnson each added 17.

No. 4-ranked Columbia Falls had a bit of trouble with Libby in the first half. Libby scored two straight baskets before halftime and trailed just 26-23.

"We lost it a little bit in the second quarter," Columbia Falls coach Kris Salonen said. "We didn't rebound."

Salonen said she made some adjustments with her team at the half.

They must have worked. The Wildkats were tough in the second half.

After Libby scored four points early in the third quarter to take a 27-26 lead, Columbia Falls turned it on. The Wildkats went on an 8-0 run that included four points by Johnson. They led by seven at the end of the quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Columbia Falls had a comfortable 11-point margin. Libby didn't get closer than six and the Wildkats finished with a 10-point victory.

"It was a big win," Salonen said. "We needed to get this win coming off the long break."

Columbia Falls looked even better against Whitefish.

With Herman dominating under the basket, the Wildkats led 35-26 at halftime. Herman had 10 first half points.

"She is the one we call 'our rock,'" Salonen said. "She is our big communicator and she keeps everybody in line. She works hard."

Despite facing tight defense, Stoltz added 11 points in the half.

"Whitefish was doubling on Bekah a little bit," Salonen said. "So that just created some things for Dani."

The Wildkats stretched their lead in the second half. Herman and Johnson combined for nine points early in the third quarter to give Columbia Falls a 46-30 lead.

The Bulldogs never got closer than nine points as Columbia Falls poured on the points. The Wildkats outscored the Bulldogs 20-12 in the fourth quarter.

Stoltz led the team with an impressive 14 rebounds.

"Offensively, the girls were just clicking," Salonen said.

A major factor in the Wildkats success has been their lack of turnovers. Salonen said last year the team averaged more than 20 turnovers a game, but this year they're only giving up the ball 12-15 times.

Salonen said sophomore point guard Callie Spencer has done a great job handling the ball.

Columbia Falls will try to extend its winning streak to four games tonight (Jan. 13). The Wildkats play Polson at 6:30 p.m. in Columbia Falls. The Wildkats play another home game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against Corvallis.

Columbia Falls 48, Libby 38

Libby 10 13 6 9 38

Columbia Falls 16 10 10 12 48

Columbia Falls 74, Whitefish 54

Whitefish 11 15 16 12 54

Columbia Falls 14 21 19 20 74