Foul trouble proves costly for Lady Bulldogs
By DAVID ERICKSON
Whitefish Pilot
The Lady Bulldogs lost a couple of tough conference games over the weekend. They fell to Bigfork on Thursday night, 44-56, and then watched a lead slip away in their 43-46 to Columbia Falls on Saturday.
In both games, the White-fish girls took a lead into halftime but had things fall the other team’s way in the second half.
Against Bigfork, the Lady ‘Dogs lost five players to foul trouble in the fourth quarter. Jessie Slaybaugh, Torie Powell, Olivia Nagler, McCara Cullen and Paula Oliveira all fouled out. The Bigfork girls capitalized at the free-throw line, going 14-for-21.
Kate Klundt paced Whitefish with 21 points and 14 rebounds. It was her seventh double-double of the season. Nagler, Olivia Curtiss and Heather Melcer came off the bench to combine for 13 points, while Slaybaugh and Powell were limited to only two points apiece.
It was deja-vu all over again on Saturday night as the Whitefish girls outscored the Wildkats 17-8 in the first quarter, and took a 31-20 lead into the half. The Wildkats came out with a fire under their shoes in the third quarter, outscoring Whitefish 18-6 to tie the game.
With the bulk of the Lady Bulldogs’ scorers on the bench in the final frame, however, Columbia Falls was able to hold on for the win. Conference scoring-leader Klundt was limited to only 12 points for Whitefish. Beth Donovan had a big night with 10 points, while Slaybaugh added six. Cullen and Brazilian post-player Oliveira each had four.
The girls travel to Polson on Saturday to take on the Lady Pirates.
Columbia Falls 8 12 18 8 - 46
Whitefish 17 14 6 6 - 43
Whitefish - Jessie Slaybaugh 6, Torie Powell 2, Kate Klundt 12, Olivia Nagler 5, Beth Donovan 10, McCara Cullen 4, Paula Oliveira 4.
Columbia Falls - McKenzie Reeve 4, Dani Gilley 2, Brook Cady 3, Kayla DeWit 14, Alyssa Ladenburg 15, Kelsey DeWit 8.
Bigfork 7 10 14 25 - 56
Whitefish 14 8 13 9 - 44
Whitefish — Jessie Slaybaugh 2, Torie Powell 2, Kate Klundt 21, Heather Melcer 3, Olivia Nagler 8, McCara Cullen 4, Paula Oliveira 2, Olivia Curtiss 2.
Bigfork — Mallery Knoll 11, Quinci Paine 2, Ariana Schults 2, Quindee Averill 2, Taylor Peck 10, Roxy Thurman 14, Caitlin Charlebois 7, Kaylee Fierro 7, Signa McLeod 1.