FHS runs away from Wildkats

Flathead's Kaylyn Heaton battles for control of the ball against Columbia Falls' Beth Karper during the second half of Thursday night's game. Craig Moore/Daily Inter Lake

By GREG SCHINDLER

The Daily Inter Lake

The Bravettes' depth and speed were too much for the Wildkats on Thursday and the Flathead High School girls basketball team beat Columbia Falls 61-42 in Kalispell.

Junior guard Kendalyn Habel led Class AA Flathead with 14 points as the Bravettes (2-1) overcame 28 turnovers against a pesky Columbia Falls defense.

Class A Columbia Falls (2-1) committed 35 turnovers, shot just 33.3 percent from the field and trailed 25-16 at halftime despite taking an early lead.

"We were up 4-0 right away, but then, offensively, we just kind of froze and didn't really attack," said Columbia Falls coach Kris Salonen. "If we didn't get anything off transition or a press-breaker and were forced into a quarter-court offense, we just really struggled."

The Bravettes, however, sunk 44.4 percent of their shots and added 19 points at the foul line.

"I liked how we played on our home floor," said Flathead coach Kim Elliott. "We did a lot of different things and they're showing me that they can think on their feet and be able to implement things during the game, and that's the beauty of having a bunch of seniors."

Five seniors were among the 13 players Elliott utilized in the Bravettes' up-tempo attack.

"I liked the intensity," Elliott said. "I like the fact that they're buying into (the concept that) when they're on the floor, they're going to give it all."

Habel scored 12 points in the second half and drained two 3-pointers.

"When she gets really hot, it's going to be an amazing night," Elliott said.

According to Elliott, Habel had the hot hand Thursday just like Chelsea Vaudt did two nights earlier when she scored 17 points against Libby.

"The beauty of these girls - it's not just one," Elliott said. "And any night they realize that one of their sisters is going to step up and that's the trust that we have to have in each other."

Junior guard Meghan O'Connell scored nine points for Flathead, thanks largely to her perfect 7-for-7 effort at the foul line.

But it wasn't a flawless performance for Flathead. Elliott said the Bravettes made far too many turnovers, didn't get enough passes to their posts, and failed to capitalize on their height advantage against a smaller Columbia Falls squad.

Elliott said Flathead's turnover and passing woes were due largely to Columbia Falls' outstanding scheme and guard play.

"I like what (Salonen) does, there's no question," Elliott said. "We played against good competition tonight. The guards put pressure on us - we could not get the balls into the post."

Salonen said she liked the way her guards, particularly Mary Nolan and Jessica Boyer, caused havoc with their hustle and intensity. She was pleased with her entire team's effort.

"That's one thing about my girls - I'll never be upset with them," Salonen said. "They do play hard and they're never going to give up, so I am proud of them for that."

Columbia Falls guard Callie Spencer led all players with 15 points.

"Callie's really been our leader, our rock," Salonen said. "She ended the season doing some good things last year and she's just been … doing some great things, she just plays so hard."

Beth Karper scored 10 points for the Wildkats, doing damage from both the post and perimeter. The 5-foot-11 senior grabbed six rebounds as well.

"Beth's just a great player," Salonen said. "She's got that nice little pump-fake and she's so quick where she can get around people and score the ball."

Salonen was surprised the Wildkats couldn't hang with the Bravettes through the entire game.

"I honestly thought that even though they were a lot bigger this year, we would do a good job competing with them and stay a little closer, but they do go deep," Salonen said. "(Elliott) does sub a lot and he's got a lot of players on the court and it's going to kill some teams - it's going to wear them down."

Flathead visits Whitefish tonight while Columbia Falls is host to Frenchtown on Saturday.

Columbia Falls 6 10 9 17 - 42

Flathead 12 13 14 22 - 61

Columbia Falls (2-1) - Callie Spencer 6 3-5 15, Amber Lampman 3 0-0 8, Jessica Boyer 2 1-2 6, Mary Nolan 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Ladenburg 0 2-6 2, Beth Karper 4 2-4 10, Sam Ladenburg 0 1-3 0, Sarah Marcille 0 0-0 0, Jylisa Fields 0 0-0 0. Totals 15-45 9-19 42.

Flathead (2-1) - Christina Zorn 1-4 0-0 2, Chaeney Latimer 0-3 1-4 1, Kendalyn Habel 6-9 0-0 14, Lindsay Ingram 1-4 6-8 8, Emilee Hashley 2-3 2-3 6, Meghan O'Connell 1-5 7-7 9, Sara Newgard 2-3 0-0 4, Chelsea Vaudt 2-5 0-2 4, Annie Braseth 1-3 0-0 2, Leslie Quay 1-3 1-3 3, Kaylyn Heaton 1-1 0-1 2, Ashley Vaudt 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 20-45 19-30 61.

3-point goals - CF 3-7 (Lampman 2, Boyer 1), FHS 2-8 (Habel 2-2). Rebounds - CF 30 (Spencer 6, Lampman 6, Karper 6, S. Ladenburg 6, Nolan 3, A. Ladenburg 1, Team 4), FHS 33 (Latimer 1, Habel 4, Ingram 5, Hashley 2, O'Connell 2, Newgard 1, C. Vaudt 6, Braseth 3, Quay 3, A. Vaudt 1, Team 2). Assists - CF 10 (Lampman 3, Boyer 2, Nolan 2, Spencer 1, A. Ladenburg 1, Karper 1), FHS 8 (Zorn 2, Habel 1, O'Connell 2, Braseth 2, Heaton 1). Steals - CF 14 (Boyer 3, Nolan 3, Spencer 2, Karper 2, A. Ladenburg 1, S. Ladenburg 1), FHS 35 (Zorn 3, Habel 1, Hashley 3, O'Connell 2, C. Vaudt 3, Braseth 10, Quay 3, Heaton 1, Team 9). Blocks - CF 2, FHS 5 (Newgard 1, C. Vaudt 2, Quay 1, A. Vaudt 1). Turnovers - CF 35, FHS 28. Total fouls - CF 22, FHS 21. Fouled out - CF 2 (Lampman, Nolan), FHS 0.