Kats look to make mark at state
Point guard Dani Gilley drives to the hoop against Polson. If the Kats can limit turnovers and get a few points from their supporting players like Gilley, they should have a good tourney. (Chris Peterson photo)
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team will head to state this weekend unranked and a little overlooked.
Of course, once the Cats get on the court it will be tough to miss the DeWit sisters. Junior Kayla DeWit averaged 19.11 points per game at the end of the regular season and senior Kelsey DeWit averaged 14.33 points per game.
Kelsey and Kayla also led the conference in rebounds, with 13.44 and 11.28 respectively.
But the key to victory has often come at the hands of Shay Grilley, who averages 7.44 points per game. When Grilley is in double figures, or someone else on the team scores eight points or so and Grilley meets her average, the Kats have proven to be a very tough opponent.
The Cats also have to limit turnovers. As of late they've seen much better guard play, particularly from Dani Gilley, who has improved her ball handling skills as the season has progressed and she's also scoring. In the championship game against Polson, Gilley scored seven points.
This year the Kats will look to improve after a disappointing showing at state last year, when they had a 14-point lead against Hamilton in the first game only to lose in overtime, 51-48.
This year the girls will open play against Billings Central. Central at 15-6 is the second seed in the East and is making its first trip to state since 2005. Central lost to Sidney 42-31 in the Eastern A divisional championship.
Cats coach Dan Fairbank said he expects them to press.
"They'll put a lot of full court pressure on us," he said.
Columbia Falls finished the year 7-1 in conference and 12-6 overall, but it took about half the season to get the offense completely settled.
In the first half of the year, the girls were a turnover machine. They've settled down considerably.
"We don't turn the ball over nearly as much," Fairbank said.
The Kats have had two weeks to prepare for state. Fairbank said that's a welcome rest. Kayla tweaked her ankle in the championship game but should be fine for state and the extra week gives Fairbank time to look at film.
Last year teams sent him film, he said, but the film didn't arrive until after the girls played in the tournament.