Wildkats pound Bulldogs, now 9-0

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team hammered Whitefish on the road last week, 66-22. The Wildkats were led by Peyton Kehr with 17, followed by Cydney Finberg and Kiara Burlage who had 14 apiece.

The Kats shot out to a 27-2 lead after the first quarter. The score could have been more lopsided, but most of the second half was a running clock.

The Kats forced 28 Bulldog turnovers — 20 in the first half. Dani Douglas had five steals, Sydney Hovde had six. Burlage had 10 rebounds and Cydney had six assists.

The girls are now 9-0 on the season. This week promises to be much tougher, as the Kats face AA Glacier at home Thursday, AA Missoula Sentinel on the road Friday and Frenchtown on the road Saturday.

Sentinel is undefeated in AA play, so it should be a great game. Frenchtown should also be a tough game. The Kats beat the Lady Broncs earlier this season at home, but Frenchtown was without Alivia Williams, one of their top players.

“This week is as good of a week of basketball as you’re going to get,” coach Cary Finberg said. Sentinel is talented throughout, with a deep bench that can score in double figures.

“This is a challenge for us this week,” Finberg added. “Hopefully we can put together three good games and see what happens.”

The Glacier game has a 6 p.m. start.

Columbia Falls 27 13 21 5 — 66

Whitefish 2 6 10 4 — 22

COLUMBIA FALLS — Dani Douglas 8, Hannah Gedleman 4, Haylie Peacock 2, Cydney Finberg 14, Peyton Kehr 17, Kiara Burlage 14, Trisha Cowan 2, Sydney Hovde 4.

WHITEFISH — Hope Brown 4, Libby Nagler 8, Anissa Brown 4, Payton Kastella 4, Marlee Bender 2.