Wildkats shoot past Bigfork
Columbia Falls senior Kiara Burlage puts up a shot against Bigfork at Bigfork on Sunday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
BIGFORK — Columbia Falls made 11 3-pointers in its nonconference girls basketball game against Bigfork on Thursday, burying the Vals in a 58-22 victory to stay unbeaten this season.
The Wildkats (6-0) led 20-1 after the first quarter, Kiara Burlage scoring nine of her 11 points in the frame to get her team off to a hot start.
Already leading 35-7 at half, the Wildkats build the lead to 56-14 at the start of the fourth quarter before coasting to the finish.
Peyton Kehr led Columbia Falls with 15 points.
Dani Douglas scored 14 points and Cydney Finberg had 12 points, each hitting four 3s in the game.
Abby Ellison led Bigfork (4-3) with eight points.
Col. Falls 20 15 21 2 — 58
Bigfork 1 6 7 8 — 22
COLUMBIA FALLS — Dani Douglas 14, Cydney Finberg 12, Peyton Kehr 15, Kiara Burlage 11, Sydney Hovde 4, Jaylynn Medina 2.
BIGFORK — Haile Norred 2, Shae Anderson 2, Abby Ellison 8, Reese Nissen 1, Jaime Berg 4, Rakiah Grende 5.
Flathead 58, Butte 46
BUTTE — Flathead jumped on Butte early, holding off a late charge to grab its first road win of the season.
The Bravettes (4-3) took a 14-3 lead after the first quarter, building that lead to 29-14 at half. Butte outscored Flathead by five points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t to overcome the stellar first half from the Bravettes.
Tiana Johnson, who returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s loss to Bozeman, led Flathead with 23 points.
Kylee Meredith had 12 points and Mary Heaton 10 for the Bravettes.
Ally Cleverly led Butte (1-5) with 17 points.
Butte 3 11 16 16 - 46
Flathead 14 15 18 11 - 58
Butte—Marti Ludwick 3, Aspen Lovshin 2, Alissa Bernhardt 4, Kira Mortenson 6, Ally Cleverly 17, Abby Dodge 9, Haley Herron 5.
FT: 22-for-38. Total Fouls: 19
Flathead—Kylee Meredith 12, Mary Heaton 10, Sierra Siblerud 5, Kelsey Gillespie 5, Taylor Henley 3, Tiana Johnson 23.
FT: 12-for-22. Total Fouls: 24
Bozeman 43, Glacier 27
BOZEMAN — Glacier played Bozeman close for most of the game but couldn’t keep pace in the fourth quarter, losing its last game before the holiday break.
The Hawks, who led by seven points entering the fourth quarter, outscored Glacier 16-7 in the final eight minutes to secure the comfortable victory.
Nikki Krueger led Glacier with 10 points.
Amber Tarabochia scored a game-high 18 points for Bozeman and Ayla Embry chipped in 10 points.
Glacier 6 9 5 7 — 27
Bozeman 10 9 8 16 — 43
BOZEMAN (3-2) — Amber Tarabochia 18, Ayla Embry 10, Elaine Chandler 4, Riana Rogers 5, Alex Carey 4, Brooklyn Mailey 2.
GLACIER — Nikki Krueger 10, Courtney Mitchell 4, Ahna Krietinger 5, Cadie Williams 3, Kali Gulick 4, McKenna Hulslander 3.
Troy 55, Thompson Falls 44
THOMPSON FALLS — Allie Coldwell and Alyssa Lewis each scored 13 points as Troy ran away from Thompson Falls in the second quarter, holding on for a District 7B conference win.
The Trojans (1-1 7B, 2-1 overall) outscored Thompson Falls 18-8 before halftime, building a 28-19 lead.
Troy led 42-26 entering the fourth quarter, holding on despite a Blue Hawks rally.
Allie Brown added 11 points for Troy and Aurora Becquart had 10.
Ember Schwindt led Thompson Falls (0-2, 0-5) with 14 points and Gillian Nelson had 10.
Troy 10 18 14 13 – 55
T. Falls 11 8 7 18 – 44
TROY – Aurora Becquart 10, Allie Coldwell 13, Olivia Roach 5, Kaitlyn Downey 3, Allie Brown 11, Alyssa Lewis 13.
T. FALLS – Gillian Nelson 10, Haley Wilson 9, Haley Morgan 9, Lexy Van Elswyk 2, Ember Schwindt 14.