Inside, outside punch catapults Flathead over the Wildkats

COLUMBIA FALLS - Inside and out.

The Flathead Bravettes had both aspects of their basketball game in full gear Friday.

The Bravettes completed a weekend sweep of the Class A basketball teams with a 61-49 victory over the host Columbia Falls Wildkats.

"Feels good. It feels good to get a couple wins," Flathead coach Dennis Latimer said.

Junior post Holli Hashley turned in 21 points - including 7-for-10 from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Christina Zorn contributed nine points - in the form of three 3-pointers in the final 2:26 of the first half.

"She was solid underneath," Latimer said of Hashley. "She really gave us that inside/out punch. That's kind of a nice added plus."

As for Zorn, "We're really proud of her," the coach said. "She's doing such a great job for us. And she's really gaining a lot of confidence."

It was Zorn's shooting that turned out to be the killer for the Wildkats, according to head coach Kris Salonen.

The game was tied at 23 when she hit the first 3 at the 2:26 mark in the second quarter. And the Wildkats bounced right back from that with a field goal from senior forward Lindsay Johnson.

But the Wildkats didn't have an answer for Zorn's second trey - at the 1:28 mark - or the third 23 seconds later.

By the time she was done, Flathead led 34-25.

"We tried to make some adjustments (at halftime)," Salonen said. "I thought the girls really did well, but offensively, we struggled."

The Wildkats struggled to the tune of six points in the third quarter.

That allowed the Bravettes to build their advantage to 45-31.

"Holy smokes … they were on fire," Salonen said. "Anybody that took the ball in their hands made (the shot)," she said.

"But we didn't lay down and die," Salonen said.

Columbia Falls instead went on a 9-2 run to start the fourth quarter and climb back within seven points at 47-40 at the 4:27 mark.

Bekah Stoltz helped spark the run with four of her team-high 17 points.

"The kids never gave up," Salonen said.

But that's when Hashley stepped up. She scored eight points - including 4-for-4 from the line - as Flathead closed out the game.

"When you're ahead, you have to play like you're ahead," Latimer said. "The posts need to touch the ball every possession."

"I thought Columbia Falls played hard," he said.

"They're a team that never slows down or gives up," Latimer said. "They're going to have a good year. They're very competitive.".

Bravettes 61, Wildkats 49

Flathead 9 25 11 16 - 61

Columbia Falls 14 11 6 18 - 49

Flathead - Christina Zorn 3 0-1 9, Chaeney Latimer 0 5-6 5, Lindsay Ingram 0 2-2 2, Amanda Lidstrom 2 2-2 8, Holli Hashley 7 7-10 21, Meghan O'Connell 1 0-0 3, Sara Newgard 2 1-2 6, Lindsay Bennett 2 1-2 5, Alena

Ori 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 20-27 61.

Columbia Falls - Callie Spencer 1 0-2 2, Jenna Toole 1 0-0 2, Kim Pearce 3 2-2 11, Lindsay Johnson 2 1-2 6, Beth Karper 2 0-0 4, Bekah Stoltz 7 1-2 17, Danielle Herman 3 1-4 7. Totals 19 5-12 49.

3-point goals: Flathead 7 (Zorn 3, Lidstrom 2, O'Connell 1, Newgard 1), Columbia Falls 6 (Pearce 3, Johnson 1, Stoltz 2); Total fouls: Flathead 13, Columbia Falls 18. Fouled out: None.