Kats advance to state consolation game

The Wildkats will be battling for the chance to bring home a trophy from the state basketball tournament this evening as they take on either Hamilton or Butte Central in the Class A consolation game at 6:30 p.m.

Led by Hannah Gedlaman’s 22 points and Trista Cowan’s 18 points and 16 rebounds, Columbia Falls earned a trip to the consolation game with a 65-47 win over Browning Saturday morning.

The Kats opened the game with an 8-2 run and led 13-7 after one quarter of play. Browning cut the lead to one at 16-15 midway through the second quarter, but a three-point play by Cowan and a three from LaKia Hill helped Columbia Falls grab a 26-21 lead at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Cowan as she scored nine of the Kats’ 17 points in the frame as Columbia Falls built a 43-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Ryley Kehr opened the fourth quarter with a three, Gedlaman sank an inside shot and Dani Douglas hit two free throws to push the Kat lead to 50-33 with seven minutes to play.

The Indians would never recover as the Kats cruised to an 18-point victory.

Along with Gedlaman’s 22 points and Cowan’s 18, Kehr added eight points for the Kats in the win, Douglas scored seven, Hill had three, Savvy Ellis, Josie Windauer and Hannah Schweikert each scored two and Kiera Brown scored one.