Wildkat spikers win Northwest A crown

The Wildkat spikers are Bozeman bound. They overcame the Frenchtown Lady Broncs on Nov. 9 at the Northwest Class A tournament 8-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19 in the championship match to win the title in Polson.

The Kats secured a berth to the state tournament the day before by turning away Whitefish in five games, 23-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-16, 15-10, and then beating the Broncs in straight games 25-22, 25-21, 25-15 to secure at least second place.

But on Saturday, Frenchtown worked its way back to the finals and beat the Kats in the first match of double elimination, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15.

But Columbia Falls fought back hard and returned the favor for the title.

Coach Josie Brown was proud of her scrappy squad, which features seven freshmen and just two seniors.

“They’ve worked so hard this season,” she said. “They’ve come together as a team and a family. When they’re down and out, they know they can still come back. They play with heart and passion.”

Frenchtown seemed to have the Kats number, beating them handily twice in the conference matches. But Columbia Falls beat the Broncs twice at the Missoula tournament, so they knew they could do it again, Brown said.

“It was no longer an impossibility — it was a possibility,” Brown said. “These girls are fighters.”

In the championship game, the girls were led by senior Haley Belgarde with 11 kills and junior Winter Kemppainen with three blocks.

They open the state Class A tournament in Bozeman against Miles City on Thursday at noon. The all-class tournament is played at the Brick Breeden Field House on the Montana State University campus.

Anything can happen at state, Brown noted.

“They’re playing pretty relaxed,” she said.

Brown said community and fan support has really helped this season.

“I’d like to thank the community and the parents,” she said. “They were so motivating and so helpful.”

Championship match No. 2 Columbia Falls def. Frenchtown, 8-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19.

Kills – Frenchtown 54 (Morgan Ray 15), C. Falls 41 (Haley Belgarde 11). Blocks – Frenchtown 11 (Ray 6), C. Falls 9 (Winter Kemppainean 3). Digs – Frenchtown 44 (Lacey Hochhalter 10), C. Falls 68 (Shay Fishel 18). Assists – Frenchtown 50 (Haley Cyr 28), C. Falls 28 (Cydney Finberg 25). Aces – Frenchtown 7 (Ray 3), C. Falls 8 (Ciera Finberg 5).