BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Class A girls - Columbia Falls ready to take next step

Less than a month ago, Cydney Finberg and Kiara Burlage celebrated a state volleyball championship.

In March, at the state basketball tournament in Belgrade, they could be doing it again.

Columbia Falls is once more the team to beat in the Northwestern A conference, and aiming this winter to improve on back-to-back third place finishes at the state tournament the last two years.

The experience of getting over the hump and winning a volleyball state title this fall won’t hurt.

“For the girls to get over that hurdle and get to the next step is a huge plus,” Wildkats coach Cary Finberg said of the volleyball team’s championship.

“We’ve got a bunch of girls that have played on successful soccer teams, too. This group of girls, they know how to win. They’ve been very successful, but to finally break through and get that next step in postseason play is huge.

“We know we’re going to be pretty good, but it’s just a matter of how good we’re going to be.”

For the first time in his five years as head coach, Finberg will have all of his attention focused on the girls team. Finberg resigned as Columbia Falls’ boys basketball coach after 19 years last spring.

“Back when I was doing just the boys it seemed like I was in the gym a lot and it seemed like quite a bit of basketball,” he said. “Now, after doing both for four years and (going) back to one I kind of realize how crazy the last four years were.”

Finberg’s daughter and the Wildkats’ point guard, Cydney, enters her junior season after earning all-state honors as a freshman and sophomore. She averaged just over seven points per game last year, and figures to carry even more of the scoring load this season with the graduation of last year’s two leading scorers — her sister, Ciera, and Winter Kemppainen.

Burlage, with Finberg the other volleyball player on the roster, returns after averaging six points per game as a sophomore. Soccer standouts Ellie Johnson and Sydney Grilley bring significant experience to the court as well.

Elsewhere in Northwestern A, Polson and Whitefish both hope to takes steps forward coming off difficult seasons.

The Pirates won just three times last year, but have a new coach in Joe Quinn and return starters Nichole Lake and Lauren Lefthand.

A former Polson assistant, Quinn hopes his experience with this group of girls translates to success the court.

“I have a pretty good rapport with them and I teach them,” he said.

“We need to focus on turnovers and free throws, and not putting girls at the free-throw line. That’s a big thing in girls basketball, not turning the ball over and not getting into foul trouble.”

Whitefish has a new coach, too, welcoming Ben Johnson to the bench. The Bulldogs also won just three games last season but return an experienced core that is eager to learn.

“In some ways it makes it a lot easier when they haven’t had any success and they want to know why,” Johnson said.

“It’s not lack of effort, it’s just understanding (what to do) and how to stay at it.

“I’m happy as heck with where we’re at already.”

Dani Douglas, an honorable mention all-conference selection as a sophomore, is Whitefish’s top returner.

All three teams began their seasons Dec. 11-12 at the Tip-Off Tournament in Missoula.