Columbia Falls girls take second at Western A divisional hoops tourney

The Columbia Falls girls are headed to the state A tournament in Belgrade in a couple of weeks. They’re just not going to the tournament the way they hoped to — as a No. 1 seed. The Wildkats lost to undefeated Butte Central Saturday night at the Butte Civic Center, 51-41.

The Kats started out strong, with a 15-8 advantage after the first quarter, but Butte cut the lead to five by the break. The real problem for Columbia Falls was the second half, when the shots stopped dropping. The girls could only muster three points in the fourth quarter as the Kats were 4-for-22 shooting in the second half. They were also out-rebounded 34-25 by the Lady Maroons.

Kiara Burlage and senior Ellie Johnson led the squad with nine points apiece. No one was in double figures.

Kloie Thatcher led the Lady Maroons with 17.

Coach Cary Finberg said overall he was pleased with the way the team played in the Butte Central game.

“I’ve got no complaints,” he said. “They played their butts off. We just couldn’t catch a break and find the basket.”

The girls qualified for state by edging a scrappy Dillon team the night before, 51-45 in a game that came down to the wire. Peyton Kehr had 19 points to lead the team, Sydney Hovde had six blocks on defense. Johnson made some key plays in the fourth to seal the win and got on her teammates while in the huddle when Dillon came back to tie it up.

“I thought it was great they were hearing it from one of the seniors,” Finberg said.

Johnson shot some clutch treys down the stretch and had a steal and a basket in the fourth for the victory.

The girls opened up the tourney with a strong win against Corvallis, 67-39.

“We came out focused and set the tone,” Finberg said.

The Kats will open the state A tournament against Havre, the third seed from the East at 2:30 p.m. March 10 in Belgrade. If the Kats get by the Blue Ponies, they’d likely face Browning in the semifinal the following night. Get past Browning and if the seeding holds true, they’ll likely face a rematch against Butte Central.

But Finberg is focused on Havre, noting they went back-and-forth against Browning all season long in the Central conference. It should be a very competitive tourney, to say the least. Belgrade could hold good Karma for the Kats, Finberg won his first-ever state title there back in 2003.  

Columbia Falls 15 15 8 3 — 41

Butte Central 8 17 10 16 — 51

COLUMBIA FALLS – Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 4, Ellie Johnson 9, Peyton Kehr 7, Kiara Burlage 9, Allyson Gimbel 4, Sydney Hovde 6.

BUTTE CENTRAL – Kloie Thatcher 17, Mollie Peoples 9, Sierra Pica 10, Kailee Murphy 8, Emily St. John 5, Kate Ossello 2.

Corvallis 6 16 8 9 — 39

C. Falls 13 25 12 17 — 67

CORVALLIS — Corine Sanderson 15, Calla Haldorson 11, Taia Tully 4, Lainie Albright 3, Penny Jessop 2, Genesis Keith 2, Tayle Wright 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Kiara Burlage 23, Peyton Kehr 15, Sydney Hovde 8, Miranda Livingston 7, Cydney Finberg 6, Sydney Grilley 4, Allyson Gimbel 4.

Dillon 6 4 18 17 — 45

C. Falls 13 9 15 14 — 51

DILLON — Alex Rouse 14, Kylie Christiansen 2, Rachael Nye 3, Bailey Berriochoa 2, Brynley Fitzgerald 22, Paige Rouse 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Cydney Finberg 4, Ellie Johnson 14, Peyton Kehr 19, Kiara Burlage 12, Sydney Hovde 2.