Lady Dogs clawed by Kats

The Whitefish girls basketball team couldn’t keep pace with the hot shooting Wildkats in a 72-23 loss at Columbia Falls on Saturday.

The top-rated Kats were on fire from 3-point land and jumped out to an overwhelming 27-2 lead in the first quarter. They extended the lead to 47-11 at the half and never looked back.

“They shot the ball like crazy,” Whitefish coach Clint Peters said. “Everything they shot went in and everything we shot went out.”

Whitefish was led by five points from Dani Douglas and four from Cailyn Ross. Both freshman have impressed Peters this season in earning varsity starting spots.

“They’re both scoring and doing the small things,” Peters said. “We’re building around them at this point.”

Peters also commended the play of juniors Allie Schulz and Coral Schulz.

“I’ve enjoyed watching Allie raise her intensity,” Peters said. “She’s bringing a new aspect to the game. Coral had a good week coming off the bench. Both are doing a good job with leadership.”

Whitefish (0-3, 2-8) hosts Polson on Saturday in another Northwest A contest.

Peters expects a competitive game if Whitefish plays with intensity.

“It’s time for us to start playing our style of basketball and to set the tone,” he said.

“We need to learn to come out and play how we practice, and we need to make that happen before the divisional tournament.”

Tip off is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Whitefish 2 9 8 4 – 23

C-Falls 27 20 16 9 – 72

WHITEFISH –  Dani Douglas 5, Allie Schulz 3, Katie Fyall 2, Mariah Drown 2, Anna Peterson 3, Haley Nicholson 2, Makenna Benbrook 2, Cailyn Ross 4.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Summer Burlage 3, Ciera Finberg 16, Sydney Grilley 5, Cydney Finberg 10, Ellie Johnson 2, Peyton Kehr 10, Winter Kemppainen 9, Miranda Livingston 7, Kiara Burlage 8, Allyson Gimble 2.