Spartans edge Kats to end winning streak

The streak is over.

After battling back to beat AA Glacier the night before at home, the Columbia Falls girls basketball team just couldn’t get past AA Missoula Sentinel on the road, losing 41-36. Sentinel, like the Wildkats, was undefeated going into the game.

The girls had a horrid first half against Glacier, down 18-8 at the break as they simply couldn’t find the basket. But they came out firing in the third quarter, scoring 21 to make a game of it. Dani Douglas hit some big threes in the fourth to put the Kats over the hump.

Against Sentinel, the girls shot out to an 11-8 lead in the first, but scored just five in the second and just three in the third as the Lady Spartans clamped down on defense.

The Kats responded with 17 in the fourth and had some chances to tie it, but the shots just didn’t drop.

On Saturday on the road, the girls pounced on conference rival Frenchtown 51-40 in a game that really wasn’t even that close. The Kats shot out to a 35-18 lead at the break and never looked back.

They were led by Peyton Kehr with 16 and Kiara Burlage with 15.

In the Glacier game, Douglas had 12 and Kehr had 13. Against Sentinel, no one was in double figures for the first time this season.

Coach Cary Finberg was pleased overall with the girls’ play, especially when they were able to beat Frenchtown after a tough Sentinel loss.

“They showed some heart there,” he said.

He noted the Sentinel loss came down to a handful of plays.

“They got a few more easy baskets,” he said. Sentinel had a couple more offensive rebounds and the Kats had a few more turnovers which was the difference.

“We played pretty well,” he said. “They’re a good defensive team.”

The Kats are now 11-1 on the year.

The girls face Stevensville at home Saturday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

Glacier 9 9 10 12 — 40

C. Falls 6 2 21 15 — 44

GLACIER — Ellie Stevens 2, Mckenna Hulslander 2, Cadie Williams 2, Ahna Kreitinger 3, Brynn McChesney 2, Nikki Krueger 16, Anna Schrade 5, Courtney Mitchell 6, Kali Gulick 2.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Dani Douglas 12, Cydney Finberg 3, Peyton Kehr 13, Ryley Kehr 2, Kiara Burlage 5, Trista Cowan 2, Sydney Hovde 7.

Columbia Falls 11 5 3 17 – 36

Sentinel 8 13 8 12 – 41

COLUMBIA Falls – Dani Douglas 3 0-0 8, Cydney Finberg 3 0-0 8, Peyton Kehr 4 0-0 9, Kiara Burlage 2 2-2 7, Sydney Hovde 1 2-2 4. Totals 13 4-4 36.

Sentinel – Lauren Bingham 0 2-2 2, Emma Blakely 2 0-1 5, Kylie Frohlich 6 2-2 14, Jordyn Schweyen 3 3-4 11, Kayla Daily 0 2-4 2, Lexi Deden 1 2-4 4, Bronwyn McCormick 1 1-2 3. Totals 13 12-19 41.

3-point goals – C. Falls 6 (Douglas 2, Finberg 2), Sentinel 3 (J. Schweyen 2). Rebounds – C. Falls 19 (Kehr 5, Burlage 5), Sentinel 31 (Frohlich 11). Total fouls – C. Falls 15, Sentinel 11. Fouled out – none.

C. Falls 16 19 13 3 – 51

Frenchtown 6 12 10 12 – 40

Columbia Falls – Dani Douglas 3, Hayllie Peacock 1, Cydney Finberg 8, Peyton Kehr 16, Kiara Burlage 15, Sydney Hovde 8.

Frenchtown – Meg Delaney 12, Alivia Williams 7, Lexi Statelen 3, Kylie Willett 4, Shannon Worster 9, Emilie Hinrichs 4, Alli Hochhalter 1.