Basketball: Wildkats sink Bravettes

Columbia Falls’ 8-0 run in the final 1:54 extended a two-point advantage to a 50-40 road victory in a nonconference girls basketball game against Flathead on Friday night.

The Bravettes (2-8 overall) top two scorers, seniors Jennesa Heine (15 points) and Emma Andrews (14 points), fouled out during that final stretch while the Wildkats (9-1) went 4-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. 

“Overall, we played really well,” Andrews said.

“They knocked down some major shots and deserved the win, but it was a good game. I thought we played well.”

It was a high-tempo contest in the first quarter with both teams looking for fast break opportunities whenever possible. The back-and-forth action resulted in a 11-9 Wildkat lead.

In the second quarter, Columbia Falls senior Haley Belgarde scored six of her 11-point total in the paint before Flathead subbed Heine back into the game to thwart the Wildkats’ success down low. 

After an errant shot hit off the rim, both post players elevated for a rebound which resulted in an unintentional elbow striking Belgarde’s temple. She left the game with a concussion and did not return. 

The Bravettes finished the second quarter on a 6-0 run, capped off by a coast-to-coast steal and layup by Andrews as time expired to tie the game 24-24.

“I didn’t think we came out aggressive enough in the first half,” Columbia Falls head coach Cary Finberg said.

“We allowed Andrews to kind of dictate what was going on. She played her tail off and does a great job getting in the passing lanes and being agressive.” 

Andrews’ double-double included a game-high 10 steals, seven of which came in the first half.

Columbia Falls got two huge three-pointers from senior Winter Kemppainen and sophomore Ellie Johnson in the third quarter; but, even with Andrews and Heine on the bench with four fouls, it could only extend its lead to 35-32 heading into the final period of play.

“Credit to our girls for matching it in the second half. Not only that, we lose a couple of players due to injury. A couple other players had to step up and they did a great job,” Finberg said.

Kemppainen hit another shot from behind the arc in the fourth to give the Wildkats an eight-point lead with four minutes left in the game. The Bravettes rallied and cut the deficit to two before the final Wildkat run.

“The emphasis has been to fight for four quarters,” Bravettes coach Lisa Hendrickson said. “We’ve got to get that fourth quarter action and we’ve got to spread it around, but I think we got better tonight.”

Both teams have big games coming up. Columbia Falls will look to improve its conference record against Frenchtown tonight at 7 while Flathead prepares for the crosstown matchup against Glacier on Thursday at 6 p.m. 

Columbia Falls  11  13  11  15 — 50 

Flathead  9  15  8  8 — 40

COLUMBIA FALLS — Winter Kemppainen 3-8 6-8 14, Haley Belgarde 4-5 3-4 11, Ciera Finberg 2-5 1-2 5, Cydney Finberg 0-5 0-0 0, Ellie Johnson 2-6 0-0 4, Summer Burlage 1-4 0-0 2, Andrea Getts 1-2 0-0 2, Miranda Livingston 1-2 1-1 3, Kiara Burlage 3-6 3-9 9, Totals 17-43 14-20 50. FLATHEAD — Emma Andrews 7-15 0-1 14, Montana Fountain 4-12 0-0 9, Lizzie Sherwood 0-3 0-0 0, Tiana Johnson 0-5 0-2 0, Jenessa Heine 7-15  0-4 15, Stephanie Wilson 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 19-54 0-7 40. 3-point goals — Columbia Falls 2-4 (Kemppainen 2-3, Johnson 0-1) Flathead 2-11 (Andrews 0-3, Fountain 1-5, Johnson 0-1, Heine 1-2). Rebounds — Columbia Falls 35 (Kemppainen 7), Flathead 28 (Sherwood 8). Total fouls — Columbia Falls 10, Flathead 20. Fouled out — Flathead (Andrews, Heine). Technical foul — none. Steals — Columbia Falls 7 (K. Burlage 2) Flathead 20 (Andrews 10). Blocks — Columbia Falls 1 (Belgrade) Flathead 1 (Heine). Turnovers — Columbia Falls 27, Flathead 16.