Kats finish third at state with win over Hamilton

The Wildkats finished the season with an emphatic win over Hamilton Saturday to finish third at the Class A state tournament in Great Falls as Columbia Falls downed the Broncs 52-36.

The Kats, who finish the season 23-5, were led by senior guard Dani Douglas, who knocked down six three-point shots en route to 20 points. Fellow senior Hannah Gedlaman added 12 points and junior Trista Cowan was also in double figures with 10.

Hamilton scored the first five points of the contest and led 8-3 before Columbia Falls closed out the first quarter with an 8-2 run to grab an 11-10 lead.

Douglas and LaKia Hill hit threes in the opening moments of the second quarter and Cowan added an inside shot as the Wildkat run extended to 16-2 to give the Kats a 19-10 advantage.

After Hamilton cut the lead to six with a three, Douglas responded with back-to-back deep threes to push the WIldkat lead to 25-13. Cowan added another basket in the closing moments of the half and the Kats led 27-16 at the break.

Gedlaman came alive for the Kats in the third quarter, scoring eight in the frame as Columbia Falls pushed its lead to 45-26 heading into the final eight minutes of play.

The Broncs could do little to cut into the Wildkat lead in the fourth quarter as Columbia Falls cruised to a 16-point victory to claim the third-place trophy.

Hill finished with six points for the Kats in the win while Savvy Ellis scored three and Ryley Kehr added one.