It was close, but still a crown for the girls

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team squeaked into the state tournament last week, taking the Northwest A divisional crown over Polson 48-46 in a game that saw the Cats two best players foul out in the fourth quarter.

Both Kayla and Kelsey DeWit fouled out in the fourth quarter, but not before they gave the team the lead. In the final seconds, senior forward Brooke Cady made some clutch defensive plays and dropped a free throw to the put the Kats up by two in a dramatic finish.

Kayla picked up her fourth foul mid way through the third quarter and Polson built their lead to seven 30-23 midway through the third. But no worries. Sister Kelsey took up the slack.

"Kesley put the team on her back," said coach Dan Fairbank.

She scored 20 points total and grabbed several clutch rebounds to keep the Kats in the game.

Still, the Pirates had a tenuous lead 32-31 after three stanzas, as Kayla was on the bench with four fouls. Kayla came back in the game and scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth to give the Kats a 39-35 with five minutes left.

But with 1:23 left in the fourth, Kayla fouled out.

The Kats clung to a 45-43 lead.

Polson tied it and then took a 46-45 lead with 34.5 seconds left after Breanne Kelley stole the ball and dropped in a layup.

It looked like an upset in the making.

But on the ensuing possession, Kelsey was fouled and drained both free throws to make it a 47-46 lead for the Kats.

Cady was fouled shortly thereafter and it looked like she would seal the win with a pair of free throws. She missed both.

Kelsey then fouled out with about 17 seconds left. If Polson had made its free throws, they would have taken the lead. They missed them and Brooke Cady grabbed the rebound and was fouled.

She went to the line and hit one of two. At least the Pirates would have to make a three pointer to win it.

With 5.5 seconds left, Polson had the ball and a chance at the tie, but Cady made the defensive play, grabbed the rebound and the game was over.

"She had two great defensive plays at the end of the game," Fairbank said.

Fairbank said that after the game, he learned that Kayla had sprained her ankle and could barely walk most of the second half and point guard Dani Gilley was sick.

"We made it through a lot of adversity," he said. "It was a great way to get to state."

Kayla is expected to be fine come tournament time. The girls have two weeks to prepare for Billings Central, the No. 2 seed from the east.

The Kats trounced Whitefish to make it to the final, 52-26. Whitefish tried to slow down the tempo, but to no avail. The blowout victory meant Fairbank was able to clear the bench — every girl that suited up played.