Kats unable to stop Tinkle in 70-49 loss to Eagles
Wildkats on the court for Columbia Falls during Saturday's game against Class AA power Big Sky were spectators rather than players in the first half. The Kats faced a 43-14 halftime deficit, and Big Sky went on to post a 70-49 win in Missoula in the first game after the holiday break.
The Kats take a 1-4 record into Friday's Northwestern A Conference opener at Libby. CFHS hosts Polson in another league game Saturday.
Statistics really told the story of the Kats' loss to Big Sky. The Eagles took 54 shots in the first half alone, and had 16 offensive rebounds in the first period.
Six-foot-4 senior Joslyn Tinkle netted 10 points in the opening quarter and poured in 12 more in the second.
"It was pure intimidation," CFHS head coach Dan Fairbank said. "We sat there and watched Joslyn Tinkle perform. She pretty much scored at will. She spent the whole summer working hard … She's extremely good this year."
Tinkle got into foul trouble and sat out most of the third period, then came back to score eight points in the final quarter.
The Eagles led 20-6 after one period, putting up 30 shots to the Kats' nine. Big Sky outscored the Kats 23-8 in the second stanza.
"They just steamrolled us. Our girls stood there flatfooted," Fairbank said.
Complicating the situation, the Kats suffered 17 turnovers in the first half - many of them caused by Big Sky's full-court pressure. The Kats had 26 turnovers for the game.
Although the game was decided, the Kats outscored the Eagles 35-27 in the second half.
"She (Big Sky coach Martin Leibenguth) kept the pressure up and their big guns stayed in there," Fairbank said of the second half.
For the game, Big Sky outrebounded CFHS, 54-35.
"That was the most disappointing part for us," Fairbank said. "We let them absolutely kill us on the boards. We did not block out."
Fairbank told his team to remember how the Kats played in each half.
"From here on out we can't play like that in the first half anymore," the coach said.
CFHS shot its best percentage of the season at the free throw line, converting eight of nine charities. Alyssa Ladenburg was 5-for-5 from the stripe and had 11 points.
Another plus, according to Fairbank, was that Big Sky shot only eight free throws.
Kayla DeWit had a double-double for the Kats, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. She also had three steals. Kelsey DeWit led in scoring with 14 points. The DeWit sisters shot a combined 54 percent from the field.
LIBBY HAS shown three players who are scoring threats, as 6-foot-1 Jackie Mee's production is being supplemented by Brittany Martin and Jaime Gilden.
"We're hoping to recognize where Jackie is. Every shot she takes should be a contested shot," Fairbank said. "They have other kids who are looking to score now."
Libby posted a 55-46 win over Whitefish on Saturday.
Fairbank said Polson was the preseason No. 1 pick in the conference, with nearly everyone returning for this season. The Pirates are coming off a 59-45 win over Stevensville, where N icole Davey had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Breanne Kelley netted 11 points.
"We have a huge test coming up against Libby and Polson," Fairbank said.
COLUMBIA FALLS (49)
McKenzie Reeve 1 0-0 2, Kayla Stratton 1 0-0 2, Kayla DeWit 6 1-2 13, Alyssa Ladenburg 2 5-5 11, Kelsey DeWit 7 0-0 14, Shay Grilley 1 0-0 3, Shiloh Knudsen 1 2-2 4. Totals 19 8-9 49.
BIG SKY (70)
Brittany Sept 4 0-1 10, Joslyn Tinkle 15 0-1 30, Katie Showers 3 1-3 7, Elleson Tinkle 2 0-0 4, Kori Thornock 1 0-2 2, Brittany Bird Rattler 3 0-0 7, Amy McLaughlin 2 0-1 4, Kelsey LaVaute 1 0-0 2, Stephanie Carl 2 0-0 4. Totals 33 1-8 70.
Columbia Falls 6 8 15 20 — 49
Big Sky 20 23 13 14 — 70
3-point goals: Ladenburg 2, Grilley; Sept 2, Bird Rattler. Total fouls: C-Falls 11, Big Sky 15. Fouled out: none.