Kats storm back, slip by Whitefish, 46-43

Proving its resiliency and determination, the Columbia Falls High School varsity girls basketball team erased a 14-point deficit and rallied for a 46-43 Northwestern A Conference victory over homestanding Whitefish on Saturday night.

The win came after the Wildkats eased past Ronan 53-31 the night before, also on the road.

CFHS’ league record goes to 4-0 and the Kats are 5-4 heading into today’s (Thursday) game at Class A Eureka. The Kats host Class AA Glacier on Friday. Whitefish dropped to 0-3 and 3-6.

Sparked by Alyssa Ladenburg, the lone senior on the squad, the Kats came back from a 24-10 deficit early in the second period. Trailing by 11 at halftime, the Kats tripled the Bulldogs 18-6 in the pivotal third quarter — capitalizing on a bevy of Whitefish turnovers.

Ladenburg was the catalyst, on both ends of the court. She turned in a rare double-double, netting 15 points and making 12 steals. She was 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Sophomore Kayla DeWit also had another double-double, with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Kats closed the third period with a baseline jumper by Ladenburg for their first lead, 38-37.

Early in the fourth, a steal and layup by Kate Klundt put Whitefish ahead by a point. But a free throw each by Kelsey DeWit and Brooke Cady pushed CFHS back in front. After a Ladenburg steal, Kayla DeWit scored on a putback for a 42-39 Kats lead.

Unable to build the lead despite two more Whitefish turnovers, the Kats saw the ‘Dogs go back in front on a 17-footer by Torie Powell with 1:43 remaining. But it was Ladenburg who was back in the spotlight. She swished two free throws seven seconds later, then added two more with :23 remaining for a 46-43 lead.

As the clock wound down the Bulldogs could not get an open look at a potential tying 3-pointer.

They were able to retain possession after the ball went out of bounds just inside midcourt, but the game clock was down to 3 seconds.

With Danielle Gilley in her face, Klundt was just short on a 3-point shot at the buzzer, and the Kats had earned the win.

Klundt scored nine points in the first half, but was held to just three after halftime.

“I really wanted it,” Ladenburg said, and she was not overly concerned that the Kats faced a double-digit deficit in the first half. “We knew we had a lot of game left. We concentrated on chipping away.”

Ladenburg knew the team counted on her for leadership.

“I’ve been in that situation before. That’s my role,” she said.

Ladenburg had been unable to get past the 11-point mark in scoring this season, and the 15 points are a season high.

“It was holding me back and it felt good to finally get past it,” she said.

“That was far and away Alyssa’s break-out game,” Kats head coach Dan Fairbank said, mentioning that Ladenburg also had six assists and only one turnover. “She put the team first.”

The Kats also turned the game around with improved rebounding in the second half, where they held the ‘Dogs to just 12 points. Whitefish had 11 more rebounds than CFHS in the first half, but the Kats outboarded the ‘Dogs 10-4 in the third period.

“That was the key, not giving them second chances,” Fairbank said.

“This is another huge step for us,” the coach said. “Everything is starting to jell.”

In turn, Fairbank gave credit to Tim Olson for the “great job” he does coaching Whitefish.

IT WAS a double-double weekend for the Kats as the DeWit sisters both had double figures in scoring and rebounding in Friday’s domination of Ronan. Kayla scored 23 points and had 12 boards, and Kelsey provided 11 points and 11 rebounds. Kayla shot 53 percent from the field.

Ladenburg had six steals and six assists.

“She played a perfect point-guard game for us,” Fairbank said of Ladenburg.

The Kats jumped to a 19-4 first-period lead, as Kayla DeWit netted 13 points.

“She was playing really, really well,” Fairbank said of DeWit.

The halftime lead was 31-11.

CFHS outrebounded the Maidens 44-30, and hustled for 17 offensive rebounds.

“They did not have a lot to stop us inside,” Fairbank said.

COLUMBIA FALLS (53)

McKenzie Reeve 2 0-0 4, Kayla Stratton 1 0-0 2, Brooke Cady 2 0-0 4, Kayla DeWit 10 3-4 23, Alyssa Ladenburg 1 1-2 3, Shay Grilley 1 2-2 4, Shiloh Knudsen 1 0-0 2, Kelsey DeWit 4 3-4 11. Totals 22 9-12 53.

RONAN (31)

Ashley Cheff 1 0-0 2, Kaylee Larson 11-4 3, Jordan Strozzi 1 0-0 2, Carli Starkel 3 0-0 7, Jade Michel 2 0-0 5, Nina Orozco 2 0-0 4, Morgan Belgrade 3 2-2 8. Totals 13 3-6 31.

Columbia Falls    19    12    9    13 — 53

Ronan    4    7    10    10 — 31

3-point goals: Starkel, Michel. Total fouls: Columbia Falls 9, Ronan 12. Fouled out: none.

COLUMBIA FALLS (46)

Reeve 2 2-2 6, Danielle Gilley 0 2-2 2, Cady 1 1-2 3, Kayla DeWit 6 2-3 14, Ladenburg 5 5-5 15, Kelsey DeWit 2 4-10 8. Totals 15 16-24 46.

WHITEFISH (43)

Jessie Slaybaugh 2 0-0 6, Torie Powell 1 0-2 2, Kate Klundt 5 1-2 12, Olivia Nagler 1 3-7 5, Beth Donovan 4 0-0 10, McCara Cullen 2 0-0 4, Paula Oliviera 2 0-4 4. Totals 17 4-15 43.

Columbia Falls    8    12    18    8 — 46

Whitefish    17    14    6    6 — 43

3-point goals: Slaybaugh 2, Klundt, Donovan 2. Total fouls: Columbia Falls 11, Whitefish 19. Fouled out: none.