Wildkats pound Vals, Pirates

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team pounded two more opponents last week as the Wildkats stretched their record to 9-0.

The Kats hammered Class B Bigfork 74-34 at home Jan. 8, then went on the road against Polson for a 66-22 victory on Jan. 10.

Against Bigfork, the Kats forced 31 Valkyrie turnovers and out rebounded Bigfork 33-17.

Ciera Finberg led the squad with 20 against Bigfork, while Winter Kemppainen had 13. The Vals simply couldn’t keep up with the Kats, who have found a groove both defensively and offensively in the past four games.

The Kats had four players in double figures against the Lady Pirates. Ciera Finberg led the team with 15, Cydney Finberg had 10, Peyton Kehr had 11, and Winter Kemppainen had 13 as the Kats scored 41 points in the first half alone.

The Kats forced 24 turnovers against the Lady Pirates, while only committing nine. They also owned the glass, out-rebounding them 36-19. The Kats had 36 more possessions than Polson.

“Offensively we’re playing with a lot of confidence,” coach Cary Finberg said. “Our depth is paying dividends right now.”

The big test will come this Thursday when the Kats host the Glacier Wolfpack. The Class AA Wolfpack girls team matches up well with the Kats, and several players along with Wolfpack coach Kris Salonen were at the Bigfork game to scout out Columbia Falls.

This one should be a barn burner.

Last year’s game came down to the closing seconds, as the Wolfpack beat the Wildkats 53-51. Game time is 6 p.m.

“It’s a good test for us,” Finberg said. “They’re the one team we’ll play this year that has more size than we do.”

The Kats then face hapless Whitefish at home on Saturday. That game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Columbia Falls 19 22 15 10 — 66

Polson 5 8 2 7 — 22

COLUMBIA FALLS – Ciera Finberg 15, Cydney Finberg 10, Ellie Johnson 4, Peyton Kehr 11, Winter Kemppainen 13, Miranda Livingston 3, Kiera Burlage 2, Allyson Gimbel 8.

POLSON – Skyla Krantz 3, Marlee Congdon 6, Lauren Lefthand 3, Dylan Quinn 2, Nichole Lake 3, McKenna Weltz 4, Peyton Anderson 1.

Bigfork 12 6 6 10 — 34

Columbia Falls 18 23 14 19 — 74

BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza 3, Jordan Heavirland 2, Mattison McAnally 2, Katie Thomas 12, Lana Berg 6, Miranda Campbell 9.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Summer Burlage 4, Ciera Finberg 20, Sydney Gilley 2, Haylie Peacock 1, Hannah Freeman 2, Cydney Finberg 2, Ellie Johnson 7, Keavyn Baker 3, Peyton Kehr 8, Winter Kemppainen 13, Miranda Livingston 4, Allyson Gimbel 7, Sydney Hovde 1.