Girls win two on the road
Feed the post. Limit the turnovers. It’s a recipe for success for the Columbia Falls girls basketball team this season. The better they do those two things, the better chance they have to win.
The Wildkats notched two more victories on the road last week, downing Class B Eureka 54-44 on Jan. 24 and then edging Libby 52-48 a couple of days later.
Against Eureka, the Kats out shot the Lady Lions 45 to 27 percent, and Haley Belgarde had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Kats.
Columbia Falls got six assists from Tori Price, three from Ciera Finberg and four from Ellie Johnson as they shared the ball and limited turnovers.
Coach Cary Finberg was pleased with the play from his guards, noting that if they limit turnovers and take quality shots, it opens up opportunities down low. Often a missed shot turns into a score because the Kats have the length in Belgarde and Winter Kemppainen to grab the rebound.
Against the Lady Loggers, the girls fought through foul trouble for the win. Libby was seven for 24 from the three-point line.
“We allowed them to get too many open looks,” Finberg said.
The Kats shot the ball pretty well — 49 percent from the field. Belgarde and Kemppainenen were 15 of 19 in combined shooting. Ciera Finberg had nine assists and no turnovers.
“That’s a great job feeding the post and taking care of the basketball,” coach Finberg said.
The girls are on the road against Bigfork on Thursday and Polson on Saturday. They’re now 10-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play.
Columbia Falls 10 10 16 18 — 54
Eureka 11 8 7 18 — 44
COLUMBIA FALLS — Hope Burlage 9, Andrea Getts 6, Winter Kemppainen 9, Ellie Johnson 6, Haley Belgarde 24.
EUREKA — Whitney Williams 6, Alex Holland 7, Alyssa White 8, Caitlin Larson 4, Cassidy Morgan 15, Carli Allen 4.
Columbia Falls 13 15 15 9 — 52
Libby 9 18 9 12 — 48
COLUMBIA FALLS — Ciera Finberg 3, Tori Price 5, Hope Burlage 8, Winter Kemppainen 15, Ellie Johnson 1, Haley Belgarde 18, Shannon Hay 2.
LIBBY — Kaitlyn Gilder 1, Hannah England 15, Hailey Craig 24, Gavy Oliver 1, Hailley Moe 2, Dayln Germany 3, Taryne Luscher 2.