Kats overcome slow starts, cruise to wins

They started slow in each game but finished big in both. That was the story of the Columbia Falls girls basketball team last week.

The Wildkats walloped Eureka at home, 62-27, on Jan. 30 and then stopped the Loggers 51-30 on the road two days later.

In the Eureka game, the Lady Lions actually had a 10-8 lead after the first stanza, but the Kats, playing shorthanded, tightened up their defense and held Eureka to just four points in the second stanza while scoring 19 on their own.

It was all C-Falls in the second half, as they cruised to victory, despite being shorthanded again — starters Ciera Finberg and Haley Belgarde were out. Two days later on the road, the Kats had just a three-point lead against the Lady Loggers at the break, but held Libby to only three points in the fourth stanza.

Junior Winter Kemppainen has been playing great ball lately, scoring 17 against the Lady Lions and 11 against the Lady Loggers. She also had 10 rebounds against the Loggers. Andrea Getts had a nice game against Libby with 11 points. Freshman Cydney Finberg had nine points as well. Against Eureka, the freshman had six points, six rebounds, six steals and 10 assists.

“She had a good all-around game,” coach Cary Finberg said. “She’s playing extremely well and starting to understand what we need from her.”

The Kats held Libby to 22 percent shooting, Eureka to 19 percent.

Ciera Finberg returned to play against Libby, but Belgarde remained out after taking an elbow to the head against Flathead a week ago. She’s expected back this week. Against Eureka, the Kats did a great job sharing the ball, as 10 of them were in the scoring column by the time the buzzer sounded.

The Kats host Bigfork at home Thursday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Then they’re on the road Saturday against Polson. The Wildkats are now 5-0 in conference play and 12-1 overall.

Columbia Falls 14 7 16 14 - 51

Libby 11 7 9 3 - 30

COLUMBIA FALLS - Ciera Finberg 4, Cydney Finberg 9, Ellie Johnson 4, Andrea Getts 11, Winter Kemppainen 11, Miranda Livingston 3, Allyson Gimbel 3, Peyton Kehr 3.

LIBBY - Bailie Rosling 2, Shyla Stevenson 6, Hailley Moe 4, Taylor Quinn 12, Dayln Germany 3, Devon Gallagher 3.

Eureka 10 4 7 6 - 27

C. Falls 8 19 15 20 - 62

EUREKA - Caty Conderio 1, Charity Parsons 7, Evynn Anderson 4, Amanda Peterson 8, Jamie Soderling 3, Ashley Pacella 4.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Summer Burlage 7, Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 6, Ellie Johnson 6, Andrea Getts 6, Winter Kemppainen 17, Miranda Livingston 4, Kiara Burlage 3, Allyson Gimbel 4, Peyton Kehr 7.