Kats lose to Bravettes, edge Lady Broncs

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team split the bill last week, dropping a close game to Flathead High School on Dec. 14 at home, 42-40. The next night, they got their first conference win against Frenchtown in another nail-biter, 45-43.

In both games, the girls looked a little rough — the passes weren’t crisp, and the shooting was often off the mark. But their defense kept them in both games right to the end.

The Wildkats led the Bravettes 10-6 after the first quarter, but Flathead responded with 18 points in the second for a 24-17 halftime lead. The Kats reversed their fortunes in the third, outscoring Flathead 15-8, but they had an anemic fourth quarter, with just eight points.

Haley Belgarde led the Kats against Flathead with 17 points but didn’t get much help.

It was another tight affair against the Lady Broncs. Frenchtown took an early lead at the half, 22-16. Then the Kats battled back to go ahead late in the fourth quarter.

Columbia Falls clung to a two-point lead with just a few seconds left when Frenchtown drove to the basket and shot. The Kats fouled the shooter just before the buzzer, and the Frenchtown player had a chance to tie it on a one-and-one with no time remaining to send it into overtime. The first three throw didn’t drop and the game ended.

Winter Kemppainen led the scoring against the Lady Broncs with 13. Belgarde had 12.

“I’m at a loss at how we won,” coach Cary Finberg said.

The stat sheet heavily favored the Lady Broncs, who out shot the Kats, 68-34. However, Frenchtown only made 16 shots while Columbia Falls made 17. The Kats also had 31 turnovers to Frenchtown’s 11, and Frenchtown had 18 offensive rebounds to the Kats eight.

But they got things done on defense. Hope Burlage had 12 rebounds, Belgarde had 11, and Kemppainen had 10. Ciera Finberg had three assists and shot 4-for-6 for nine points.

The girls simply found a way to win, even if it was a little ugly. But Finberg noted that if the girls just clean up their game some, they have a chance to be very good. They’re still young — they start a junior and two sophomores.

The Kats face Eureka on Thursday at home at 6 p.m. and Libby at home on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Frenchtown 10 12 6 15 — 43

Columbia Falls 9 7 13 16 — 45

FRENCHTOWN — Abby Indreland 6, Vanessa Stavish 15, Kayla Blood 1, Kenzie Reid 3, Shaela Wallin 5, Holly Jacobs 3, Larissa Berg 10.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Ciera Finberg 9, Hope Burlage 9, Winter Kemppainen 13, Haley Belgarde 12, Shannon Hay 2.

Flathead 6 18 8 10 – 42

Col. Falls 10 7 15 8 – 40

FLATHEAD – Emma Andrews 3-20 5-7 11, Dani Davis 1-8 0-3 2, Emily Russell 7-12 3-5 17, Jessika Abbrescia 1-9 1-5 3, Jenessa Heine 3-9 3-7 9, Ronalae Rogers 0-3 0-0 0, Payton Pietron 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-62 12-27 42.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Ciera Finberg 2-9 0-0 5, Tori Price 0-2 0-0 0, Hope Burlage 3-6 0-0 6, Winter Kemppainen 2-5 0-1 4, Haley Belgarde 8-12 1-5 17, Kaity Presnell 0-1 0-0 0, Miranda Livingston 0-2 0-0 0, Kathrin Jetty 0-5 2-4 2, Andrea Getts 2-6 2-3 6, Ally Gimbel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-49 5-13 40.

3-point goals – Flathead 0, Columbia Falls 1 (Finberg).