DeWit scores 16 in Wildkats' NWA divisional victory
RONAN - Future Montana State Bobcat Kayla DeWit scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds as the Columbia Falls Wildkats dumped Libby 46-37 in the Northwestern A girls divisional championship at the Ronan Event Center.
It was the third straight divisional title for Columbia Falls.
"I was very proud of the girls," said Columbia Falls coach Dan Fairbank.
"Jim May does a great job in Libby, always has his girls ready to play. I was very, very proud of the effort (the Wildkats) put forth tonight."
Hope Burlage added 12 points and five rebounds and Dani Gilley dished out six assists for Columbia Falls.
No slouch on the Libby side, Jaime Gilden scored 19 points and had nine rebounds and two assists. Logan Best added 14 points and three assists.
Columbia Falls led 26-18 at half, then broke the game open with a 16-point third quarter.
"We never really felt comfortable the whole game. But our senior leadership really paid off. A couple of those girls played in the championship last year and the year before - Kayla DeWit and Dani Gilley. They were really able to calm everybody down. Whenever Libby made a run, I felt those two kids calmed everybody down and did what they needed to do," Fairbank said.
The Wildkats (13-7) shot lights out - 19-for-39 on the night for 48.7 percent. They outrebounded Libby 26-20 and had nine assists to six for the Loggers (9-11).
Both teams advance to next week's Class A state tournament in Belgrade starting on Thursday.
Libby 10 8 10 9 - 37
Col. Falls 16 10 16 4 - 46
LIBBY - Jaime Gilden 19, Logan Best 14, Alysha Martin 3, Kim Tangen 1. Totals 12 5-10 37.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Kayla DeWit 16, Hope Burlage 12, Dani Gilley 6, Jonna Werner 6, Shaun Rowe 4, Allie Lampman 2. Totals 19 8-18 46.
3-point goals - Libby 8 (individuals not available), Columbia Falls 0. Totals fouls - Libby 13, Columbia Falls 10. Fouled out - none. Rebounds - Libby 20 (Gilden 9, Martin 5), Columbia Falls 26 (Dewit 13, Burlage 5).
Consolation Final
Polson 56,
Whitefish 32
RONAN - Mariah Hamel scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds and Breanne Kelley added 14 points as the Polson Pirates rolled past Whitefish, 56-32 in the Northwestern A divisional consolation game.
Olivia Curtiss and Jessica Poe scored six points apiece for the Bulldogs (2-17). Olivia Nagler added five rebounds.
The Pirates (12-8) claimed third place in the tournament, but were denied a chance at a challenge game when Columbia Falls defeated Libby in the championship. Libby defeated Polson on Friday night.
Whitefish 6 8 11 7 - 32
Polson 18 10 13 15 - 56
WHITEFISH - Olivia Curtiss 6, Jessica Poe 6, Simone Craft 5, Shannon Craft 5, Heather Bailey 2, Brooke Silliker 2, Taylor Havens 2, Olivia Nagler 2, Ashlee Brewer 2. Totals 14 2-5 32.
POLSON - Breanne Kelley 14, Mariah Hamel 11, Riley Kenney 9, Mackenzie Banner 7, Nina Orozco-Charlo 6, Heidi Rausch 4, Anna DiGiallonardo 4, Jonna Grant 1. Totals 14 27-37 56.
3-point goals - Whitefish 2 (individuals not available), Polson 1 (individuals not available). Totals fouls - Whitefish 25 Polson 11. Fouled out - none. Rebounds - Whitefish 25 (Nagler 5), Polson 25 (Rausch 6, Hamel 5, Kenney 5).
Early loser-out
Polson 56, Ronan 24
RONAN - Breanne Kelley scored 18 points and Riley Kenney and Jona Grant added 11 as the Polson Pirates bounced back from Friday's semifinal loss to beat the Ronan Maidens 56-24 in a loser-out contest Saturday morning.
Heidi Rausch and Kelley each contributed eight rebounds to the Pirate effort.
Courtney Clairmont paced the Maidens (1-19) with nine points.
Ronan 4 6 9 5 - 24
Polson 8 12 12 24 - 56
Ronan - Courtney Clairmont 9, Alice VanGunten 4, Ashleigh Lynch 3, Tailyr Irvine 3, Mariah Cheff 2, Trinity Rosenbaum 2, Ashley Grandchamp 1.
Polson - Breanne Kelley 18, Riley Kenney 11, Jona Grant 11, Mariah Hamel 9, Heidi Rausch 4, Anna DiGiallonardo 2, Nina Orozco-Charlo 1.