Kats top Vals, go to 5-0 in NW A

In a showdown of two of the three teams vying for the top spot in the Northwestern A Conference, Kelsey DeWit, Kayla DeWit and Alyssa Ladenburg combined for 44 points in a 49-43 girls basketball win over Bigfork last Friday in Bigfork.

CFHS sank 13 of 19 free throws in the final period and finished the game with an 18-for-24 mark.

The Wildkats remain the only unbeaten team in the league, with a 5-0 mark. They host second place Libby, which is 5-1, tonight (Thursday). With the loss to Columbia Falls, Bigfork fell to 3-2 in conference games.

CFHS plays Saturday at Polson.

The DeWit sisters both had a double double for the Wildkats. Kelsey scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Kayla — overcoming early foul trouble — added 15 points and 10 boards.

They combined to go 8-for-8 from the foul line. Ladenburg netted 14 points, and had six rebounds and four assists.

It was a see-saw second half for the Kats after a good start.

“We jumped all over them,” Kats head coach Dan Fairbank said, seeing his team lead 21-16 at halftime and expand the margin to nine early in the third period. “They stepped up the intensity on full-court pressure and we turned the ball over a bunch. They were getting a lot of transitions.”

Many of the Kats’ 25 turnovers came in the third quarter, where the Valkyries outscored CFHS 17-6.

The Kats regained their composure in the fourth period, though, taking advantage of a poor shooting night by the Vals. CFHS doubled Bigfork 20-10 in the final eight minutes.

CFHS won the board battle, 44-37, but the Vals had 21 offensive rebounds.

“We did not block out very well,” Fairbank said.

Roxy Thurman led Bigfork with 16 points.

“We were supposed to recognize where Roxy was and not let her get the ball,” Fairbank explained. “We didn’t rotate very well, leaving the back-side wing open several times.”

THE KATS have four of their remaining five conference games at home, beginning with the key Libby game tonight (Thursday).

“We need to step up our defense again,” Fairbank said, acknowledging how well the Loggers have been playing this season.

Jackie Mee and Brittany Martin combined to score 65 points in last week’s games, wins over Whitefish and Eureka.

“We have to see if we can keep track of Brittany Martin and Jackie Mee,” Fairbank said.

Fairbank said Polson is a very athletic team and the Pirates are dangerous because they are so tall.

Statistics — Three Kats are in the top 10 in the Northwestern A Conference in scoring. Kayla DeWit is fourth (13.6 points), Kelsey DeWit is sixth (11.5) and Ladenburg eighth (9.1).

COLUMBIA FALLS (49)

Kayla Stratton 1 0-0 2, Danielle Gilley 0 0-1 0, Brooke Cady 0 1-2 1, Kayla DeWit 6 3-3 15, Alyssa Ladenburg 3 7-11 14, Shay Grilley 0 2-2 2, Kelsey DeWit 5 5-5 15. Totals 15 18-24 49.

BIGFORK (43)

Mallery Knoll 3 3-3 9, Taylor Peck 1 2-2 4, Roxy Thurman 6 6-8 19, Caitlin Charlebois 1 1-2 3, Kailey Fierro 1 5-10 7, Signa McLeod 0 1-6 1. Totals 12 18-31 43.

Columbia Falls    10    11    6    20 — 49

Bigfork    11    5    17    10 — 43

3-point goals: Ladenburg; Thurman. Total fouls: Columbia Falls 19, Bigfork 16. Fouled out: Kayla DeWit.