Shorthanded Kats bounce Bravettes, Broncs

Two more big wins. The Columbia Falls girls basketball team dropped the Flathead Bravettes, 50-40 in a Jan. 23 away game and put away conference rival Frenchtown 55-42 at home on Jan. 25.

The win over the Lady Broncs nearly assured the regular season conference title for the girls, who are now 10-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play.

The Wildkats had a physical battle against Class AA Flathead. Three players got banged up in the game. Haley Belgarde, Ciera Finberg and Summer Burlage.

Belgarde took an elbow to the head after scoring 11 points, and Burlage and Finberg suffered banged up knees — nothing horrible, but they were unable to play against Frenchtown two days later.

Winter Kemppainen had a great game against the Bravettes, with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. She also took two charging penalties.

“She carried the load for us that game,” coach Cary Finberg said.

The Kats outscored the Bravettes 15-8 in the fourth quarter, including a flurry of points in the last minute and half to seal the win.

With two starters out, the bench stepped up in a big way against conference foe Frenchtown. Senior Andrea Getts had 24 points and seven rebounds, shooting 11 for 18.

“She busted her butt running the floor,” Finberg noted.

Kemppainen also had another solid performance, sparking the team early. She had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Cydney Finberg had seven points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals with just two turnovers running the point. Ally Gimbel led the squad with nine boards, as the girls put the game away in the second half.

Finberg said he’s pleased with the way both the girls and boys squads are playing as of late. The emphasis is on defense — offense can come and go, but defense is what keeps a team in a game.

The girls still have a bit to work on. They had 29 turnovers against the Bravettes but just 12 against the Lady Broncs. Even so, they’re playing awfully well. Against Frenchtown, the Kats had two freshmen and two sophomores on the floor at times.

The Kats host Eureka on Thursday night and then travel to Libby for another conference match-up Saturday. The Eureka game has a 6 p.m. start.

Frenchtown 7 7 14 14 — 42

Columbia Falls 10 9 18 18 — 55

FRENCHTOWN — Haley Cyr 8, Vanessa Stavish 11, Alli Moe 2, Brooke Yarnall 10, Keegan Wickman 5, Lacey Hochhalter 4, Laci Willett 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Cydney Finberg 7, Ellie Johnson 2, Andrea Getts 24, Winter Kemppainen 11, Miranda Livingston 4, Kiara Burlage 5, Allyson Gimbel 3.

Columbia Falls 11 13 11 15 — 50

Flathead 9 15 8 8 — 40

COLUMBIA FALLS — Winter Kemppainen 3-8 6-8 14, Haley Belgrade 4-5 3-4 13, Ciera Finberg 2-5 1-2 5, Cydney Finberg 0-5 0-0 0, Ellie Johnson 2-6 0-0 4, Summer Burlage 1-4 0-0 2, Andrea Getts 1-2 0-0 2, Miranda Livingston 1-2 1-1 3, Kiara Burlage 7, Totals 17-43 14-20 50.

FLATHEAD — Emma Andrews 7-15 0-1 14, Montana Fountain 4-12 0-0 9, Lizzie Sherwood 0-3 0-0 0, Tiana Johnson 0-5 0-2 0, Jenessa Heine 7-15 0-4 15, Stephanie Wilson 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 19-54 0-7 40.

 3-point goals — Columbia Falls 2-4 (Kemppainen 2-3, Johnson 0-1) Flathead 2-11 (Andrews 0-3, Fountain 1-5, Johnson 0-1, Heine 1-2). Rebounds — Columbia Falls 35 (Kemppainen 7), Flathead 28 (Sherwood 8). Total fouls — Columbia Falls 10, Flathead 20. Fouled out — Flathead (Andrews, Heine). Technical foul — none. Steals — Columbia Falls 7 (K. Burlage 2) Flathead 20 (Andrews 10). Blocks — Columbia Falls 1 (Belgrade) Flathead 1 (Heine). Turnovers — Columbia Falls 27, Flathead 16.