Lady Dogs finish fifth at divisional

The Lady Bulldogs wrapped up their season last weekend with a good effort at the Northwestern A divisional basketball tournament in Ronan.

Whitefish finished in fifth place with losses to Libby and Polson. Frenchtown won the tourney, Columbia Falls took second.

The Dogs opened Thursday’s first-round game against Libby with a scoreless frame as the Loggers outscored Whitefish 11-0 to take the early lead.

The Dogs battled back, outscoring Libby 14-7 in the next two quarters to make it 14-18 going into the fourth.

Simone Craft led the team with a dozen points. Ashlee Brewer added five.

Whitefish suffered a big setback early in the first quarter of the loser-out game against Polson Saturday morning. Craft went down with a leg injury in the first minute and would be sidelined for the remainder. Craft is the primary ball-handler and top scorer for Whitefish.

Still, the Lady Dogs kept fighting.

Maura Kalbfleisch hit a long jumper to make it 4-7 in the early minutes.

Freshman Allie Schulz nailed a jump shot in the second quarter to keep the Dogs close.

Melissa Poe scored in the post to open the second half, followed by another jumper from Schulz.

Whitefish put in 10 points in the final frame to cap the season. Brewer worked hard in the paint until the final buzzer and nailed a long jumper to add to her six points.

Schulz finished with 10 points to lead the Dogs. Jess Baldonado added four.

Whitefish finished the season 1-19 overall.

Whitefish 0 7 7 3 – 17

Libby 11 4 3 7 – 25

WHITEFISH – Simone Craft 12, Ashlee Brewer 5. totals 6 3-11 17.

LIBBY – Dayln Germany 9, Hailey Craig 7, Devon Gallagher 5, Hannah England 3, Hailey Moe 1. Totals 9 4-13 25.

3-point goals – Whitefish 2, Libby 3. Rebounds – Whitefish 19 (Brewer 5), Libby 20 (Germany 5). Fouls – Whitefish 13, Libby 11. Fouled out – none.

Whitefish 5 5 6 10 – 26

Polson 12 15 15 16 – 58

WHITEFISH – Allie Schulz 10, Ashlee Brewer 6, Jess Baldonado 4, Maura Kalbfleisch 2, Melissa Poe 2, Lauren Cain 1, Micah McFeely 1.

POLSON – Anna DiGiallonardo 17, Heidi Rausch 11, Mackenzie Banner 10, Malia Hamel 9, Hallie Hovenkotter 6, Dylan Quinn 3, Tegan Bauer 2.

3-point goals – Whitefish 0, Polson 6. Total fouls – Whitefish 21, Polson 17. Fouled out – Craft. Rebounds – Whitefish 24 (Poe 6), Polson 26 (Banner 4). Turnovers – Whitefish 13, Polson 18.