Kats make quick work of Broncs

After a slow start, the Columbia Falls girls basketball team poured it on to drop the Frenchtown Broncs in their season opener last Saturday, 55-37.

Frenchtown had a 15-9 lead after the first stanza, but the Kats blanked the Broncs 13-0 in the second quarter to take a 22-15 lead at the half, and they never looked back.

The Kats were led by Shay Grilley and Kayla DeWit with 18 points apiece.

The Kats made a defensive adjustment after the first quarter to stymie the Broncs' inside shooting, said coach Dan Fairbank. They were running a 2-3 zone, but switched to a 1-2-2, he said. That took away the 10 to 12-footers Frenchtown was getting.

The Kats also had 13 turnovers in the first quarter.

There were a lot of positives in the win. Danielle Gilley played point guard most of the game "and did a nice job," Fairbank said.

"Everyone contributed in one way or another."

Grilley also had eight rebounds, four steals, two blocks, two assists and just one turnover.

"She had a nice complete game," Fairbank said.

Kelsey DeWit had 12 rebounds and Kayla DeWit had 10 boards to go with her 18 points. The Kats out-rebounded Frenchtown 47-30.

The Kats need to work on ball movement, Fairbank said. They need to get the ball inside more. Kelsey only had two shots in the first half.

The girls travel to Polson and Ronan this weekend for the Western A tip-off tourney. They play Dillon at 6 p.m. Friday and Stevensville at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Dillon beat the Kats last year and Stevi has a solid 6-1 post player who should be a good test for the DeWit sisters, Fairbank said.

Columbia Falls 55, Frenchtown 37

Columbia Falls 9 13 15 18 - 55

Frenchtown 15 0 16 6 - 37

COLUMBIA FALLS - McKenzie Reeve 6, Dani Gilley 2, Kayla DeWit 18, Brook Cady 4, Shay Grilley 18, Joana Warner 2, Kelsey DeWit 5.

FRENCHTOWN - Jaylyn Garrison 1, Keller Leishman 3, Angel Lowry 4, Sarah Lester 8, Shelby Jutila 9, Kelsey Fallis 2, Jesse Tucker 3, Brittney Belcker 7.