Wildkats sneak by Bravettes

By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake

Alyssa Ladenburg may have scored only two points Friday against the Flathead Bravettes, but oh were they huge.

They were also the difference.

Ladenburg's breakaway layup with 11 seconds remaining gave Columbia Falls a 49-47 lead and the nonconference basketball victory.

The Wildkats (1-2) outscored the Bravettes (0-3) 17-7 in the final period to pull it out.

Columbia Falls' Kelsey DeWit set up the game-winning shot by corralling a missed shot by Kelsey Hildel under the Wildkat basket. DeWit immediately looked up court and hit Ladenburg in stride for the layup.

Ladenburg was fouled on the play, but missed her free throw.

Flathead had the final possession, but failed to get off a clean shot off at the end.

"That's a nice monkey off our backs," a pleased Columbia Falls coach Dan Fairbank said afterwards.

"About half the game we didn't have the DeWits (Kelsey and Kayla because of foul trouble). It's hard to get anything going without your two six-footers in there."

Hildel, making her first varsity start for FHS, made a big impact. The 5-foot-4 senior guard led all scorers with 22 points, which included three 3s.

Ariel Johnson added 13 for the Bravettes.

"We learned a lot about the last 1:17 of a ballgame," Flathead coach Kim Elliott said.

"They learned that you have to finish a game."

Flathead scored just two points, both on free throws, in the final 2:59.

Columbia Falls, down 46-43 with 2:42 remaining, missed four straight free throws before Grilley connected on two to make it a one-point game with 1:02 remaining.

Grilley paced Columbia Falls offensively with 12 points. Kelsey DeWit followed with 10 and Kayla DeWit added nine.

The Wildkats got off to a strong start, but foul trouble put Kelsey DeWit on the bench with three in the opening period.

Flathead took advantage, taking a 29-24 lead at the half.

"We were in the game tonight," Elliott said.

"We played basketball and so did Columbia Falls."

Columbia and Flathead both have nonconference outings tonight before the holiday break. The Wildkats play at Missoula Sentinel; the Bravettes travel to Libby.

Columbia Falls 14 10 8 17 - 49

Flathead 12 17 11 7 - 47

Columbia Falls - McKenzie Reeve 1 0-0 2, Kayla Stratton 2 0-0 4, Danielle Grilley 1 0-0 2, Brooke Cady 2 2-4 6, Kayla DeWit 4 1-4 9, Alyssa Ladenburg 1 0-0 2, Shay Grilley 5 2-4 12, Shiloh Knudsen 1 0-0 2, Kelsey DeWit 5 0-2 10. Totals: 22 5-14 49.

Flathead - Kelsey Hildel 8 3-5 22, Ariel Johnson 4 5-9 13, Jaimee Zorn 0 4-7 4, Annie Cronk 1 1-2 3, Danika Johnson 1 0-0 2, Emily Obermiller 0 3-6 3. Totals: 14 16-29 47.

3-point goals: Hildel (3); Team fouls: Columbia Falls 21, Flathead 16; Fouled out: Kayla DeWit