Columbia Falls girls fall to Missoula Sentinel, clobber Bulldogs

Sometimes a good team has a bad night. That’s what happened Saturday as the top-ranked Wildkats were drubbed by Missoula Sentinel at home 45-28. The game had all the promise of a classic battle — Sentinel is the top AA girls team in the state and the Wildkats had won 10 in a row.

But the Kats had six turnovers in the first quarter alone and had 12 in the first half. Capped with a cold night shooting and some tough Sentinel defense, the Kats mustered just 10 points in the first half, down 20-10 at the break.

The second half was a little better for Columbia Falls, but not much. Sentinel kept the pressure on and coach Cary Finberg pulled his starters midway through the fourth. Kiara Burlage was the only Kat in double figures with 10 points.

Finberg said the girls played tight. He said he hopes the team uses the loss as a learning moment and motivation for the rest of the season. They went 3-for-23 shooting in the first half and 9-for-42 for the game.

The only positive was that the Kats competed hard defensively, he noted, which kept them in the game in the first half.

The girls had a much better game against cross-valley rival Whitefish Thursday, drubbing the improved Lady Bulldogs 72-33 at home. Peyton Kehr led the team with 20. Burlage had 15. The girls shot out to a 24-7 led in the first and never looked back. But even in that game, Whitefish, which is an improved team, matched them rebounding in the first half, Finberg noted.

The Kats are now 10-1. They travel to Frenchtown Thursday and face Stevensville at home Saturday. The Stevi game starts at 4 p.m.

Whitefish 7 10 8 8 — 33

Columbia Falls 24 16 19 13 — 72

WHITEFISH — Dani Douglas 8, Coral Schulz 12, Allie Shulz 5, Haley Nicholson 2, Makenna Benbrook 2, Cailyn Ross 2, Becca Catina 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS —Sydney Grilley 4, Cydney Finberg 9, Ellie Johnson 6, Peyton Kehr 20, Miranda Livingston 3, Kiara Burlage 15, Allyson Gimbel 4, Sydney Hovde 11.

Sentinel 6 14 15 10 — 45

Columbia Falls 4 6 10 8 — 28

SENTINEL­—Brittany Delridge 2 1-4 5, Shelby Schweyen 3 0-0 6, Kylie Frohlich 2 2-6 6, Jordan Schweyen 7 1-2 17, Shannon Worster 3 2-2 9, Lauren Bingham 1 0-0 2, Kayla Daily 0 0-2 0. Totals: 18 6-16 45.

COLUMBIA FALLS—Sydney Grilley 0 1-2 1, Hannah Gedlaman 2 0-0 4, Ellie Johnson 1 0-0 3, Peyton Kehr 3 0-0 7, Ryley Kehr 0 1-2 1, Kiara Burlage 3 3-4 10, Allyson Gimbel 0 2-6 2. Totals: 9 7-14 28.