Kats play better defense, but offense is elusive

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team had a rough weekend, losing to both Flathead and Frenchtown at home.

The Class AA Bravettes knocked off the Wildkats 57-31 on Dec. 16, and things didn't get much better the next night as the Kats were bested by the Broncs 51-34.

The young Columbia Falls team is playing much better defense, but a cohesive offense is still proving elusive as the girls fell to 0-4 for the year. Flathead held the Kats to just 11 points in the first half.

"The big concern is we're making the same mistakes over and over," coach Cary Finberg said. "We're not making the adjustments we need to."

The Cats held tight with Frenchtown in the first half, down 18-13 at the break, but the Broncs held the Kats to just three points in the fourth quarter. Mistakes killed the Kats.

"It's hard to win when you turn the ball over 33 times," Finberg noted.

Hope Burlage paced the Kats with 14 against Frenchtown and 12 against the Bravettes. The team will look for its first win against Eureka on Tuesday, a game that was played after presstime.

The Kats face Bigfork away Jan. 5.

Frenchtown 6 12 14 22 - 51

Columbia Falls 7 6 8 3 - 34

FRENCHTOWN - Abby Indreland 8, Vanessa Stavish 6, Kayla Blood 9, Angel Lowry 12, Emma Oostdyk 3, Holly Jacobs 5, Morgan Ray 7, Larissa Berg 1.

C. FALLS - Ciera Finberg 1, Tori Price 3, Hope Burlage 14, Madison Sandefer 5, Courtney White 4, Andrea Getts 2, Haley Belgarde 5.

Flathead 16 21 13 7 - 57

Columbia Falls 7 4 10 10 - 31

FLATHEAD - Emma Andrews 8 3-5 20, Tess Brenneman 3 4-5 10, Kelsey Davis 1 1-3 3, Ashlee O'Dell 3 0-0 6, Brittany Earnest 2 6-6 10, Malia Ozegovich 1 0-0 2, Cassie Krueger 2 0-0 4, Jenessa Heine 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 14-19 57.

C. FALLS - Kaity Presnell 1 0-0 3, Alli Diernfield 1 0-2 2, Kathryn Jetty 0 1-2 1, Hope Burlage 3 6-7 12, Madison Sandefer 2 2-4 6, Courtney White 1 0-1 2, Haley Belgarde 2 1-2 5. Totals 10 10-18 31.

3-point goals - Flathead 1 (Andrews), Columbia Falls 1 (Presnell). Total fouls - Flathead 14, Columbia Falls 19. Fouled out - none.