Wildkats start hot, move into semis

GREAT FALLS — Maddie Robison scored nine points to lead the way for Columbia Falls, who used an early burst to down Glendive 37-21 at the State A girls’ basketball tournament Wednesday.

The Wildkats, 20-0, will take on Havre (15-2) at 5:30 p.m. tonight in the first semifinal. The Blue Ponies downed Hamilton 54-39 Wednesday.

Hamilton (14-7) and Glendive (9-11) will play a loser-out game at 1 p.m.

In other action Wednesday, Hardin topped Ronan 66-38 and Billings Central downed Whitefish 57-35.

Whitefish and Ronan play a loser-out today at 3:30 p.m.

Columbia Falls 37,

Glendive 21

Both teams shot poorly in the first-round game at Four Seasons Arena, and the 20-0 Wildkats turned frigid after Robison’s 3-pointer put them up 17-2 early in the second quarter.

“We were very good initially,” Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said. “And we needed to be because we had our worst shooting game of the year, worst scoring game of the year.

“Hopefully we got that out of our system and we’ll shoot better tomorrow.”

Glendive (9-11) was even colder, missing 55 of 62 shots. Montana Lady Griz signee Jillian Litwiller went 1-for-18 from the floor. Codi Nagle scored six points and snared 11 rebounds for the Red Devils.

Madysen Horner had four points and 12 boards for the Kats.

“I liked the way we competed and liked the way we defended,” Finberg said. “But we need to shoot better tomorrow because Havre’s very good.”

Havre 54, Hamilton 39

The Blue Ponies had fewer issues shooting the ball, hitting 49 percent from the field. Yelena Miller and Kylie Walker had 10 points each to top Havre.

Hamilton got most of its offense from Layne Kearns, who hit two 3-pointers and 13 free throws on the way to 23 points.

Billings Central 57,

Whitefish 35

Mya Hansen hit three 3-pointers and scored 22 points for Billings Central, which took command in the second quarter.

The Rams got another 15 points from Belle Erickson.

Gracie Smyley scored 10 points for Whitefish (x-x), which committed 25 turnovers that led to 30 points for Central.

Hardin 66, Ronan 38

Nevaeh Alden scored 14 points and 10 different Bulldogs scored as Hardin cruised to the win.

Hardin (13-4) forced 30 turnovers by the Maidens and cashed them in for 25 points.

Jaylea Lunceford scored seven points for Ronan (12-8), which trailed 28-10 at halftime. The Maidens also missed 17 free throws.

First round

Col. Falls 14 3 10 10 - 37

Glendive 2 10 4 5 - 21

COLUMBIA FALLS — Maddie Robison 3-12 2-2 9, LaKia Hill 1-2 1-3 4, Lauren Falkner 4-7 0-2 8, Madysen Hoerner 2-5 0-0 4, Hannah Schweikert 1-11 3-6 6, Carlin 1-1 0-0 2, Erb 1-2 0-0 3, Green 0-0 1-3 1, Hope McAtee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-45 7-16 37.

GLENDIVE — Mikah James 0-4 0-0 0, Codi Nagle 3-15 0-0 6, Jillian Litwiller 1-18 5-6 5, Madison Wahl 2-10 0-2 4, Mallory Robinson 1-11 0-0 2, Jane Harrison 0-4 0-0 0, Kadence Nissley 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Peoples 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 7-62 5-8 21.

3-point goals - Col. Falls 4-12 (Erb, Hill, Schweikert, Robison), Glendive 2 (Nagle 2). Rebounds - Columbia Falls 44 (Hoerner 12), Glendvie 46 (Nagle 11). Fouls — Columbia Falls 12, Glendive 16.

First round

Hamilton 3 8 18 10 - 39

Havre 11 19 18 6 - 54

HAMILTON — Morgan Brenneman 0-1 0-1 0, Layne Kearns 4-9 13-17 23, Magdalena Ringer 2-3 2-2 6, Mya Winkler 1-4 0-1 2, Madi Devall 1-1 1-4 3, Katelyn Dickemore 1-3 0-0 3, Rylee Brackman 0-1 2-3 2. Totals 9-22 18-28 39.

HAVRE — Yelena Miller 5-7 0-0 10, Sadie Filius 3-8 1-2 9, Kylie Walker 4-7 0-0 10, Avery Carlson 3-4 0-0 6, Quinn McDonald 0-2 1-2 1, Loy Waid 1-1 1-4 3, Kennedy Hampton 2-3 2-4 6, Alyssa Oliver 0-4 1-2 1, Sydney Wilting 1-5 0-0 3. Totals 21-43 6-14 54.

3-point goals — Hamilton 3 (Kearns 2, Dickemore), Havre 6 (Filius 2, Walker 2, Wilting, Team). Rebounds — Hamilton 21 (Ringer 6), Havre 23 (Filius 5). Fouls — Hamilton 9, Havre 17.

First round

Hardin 14 14 15 22 - 66

Ronan 5 5 11 17 - 38

HARDIN — Kylee Old Elk 5-12 1-2 12, Alyssa Pretty Weasel 1-5 0-0 2, Kamber Good Luck 2-7 0-0 6, Breanna Old Elk 2-8 6-8 11, Aiyanna big Man 4-10 0-0- 9, Lexis Hogan 2-2 0-0 4, Evelyn Old Crow 0-1 1-2 1, Dierra Takes Enemy 2-4 1-2 5, Katerena Morrison 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 25-68 11-24 66.

RONAN — LaReina Cordova 2-8 0-2 4, Dani Coffman 1-3 1-2 3, Areanna Burke 2-7 0-0 6, Madeline McCrea 0-0 0-0 0, Jaylea Lunceford 3-4 1-3 7, Olvia Henier 0-0 1-2 1, Leina Ulutoa 2-5 1-4 5, Margaret Cordova 2-4 1-1 6, Jaeleigh Gatch 1-2 4-8 6. Totals 13-36 9-26 38.

3-point goals - Hardin 5 (Good Luck 2, B.Old Elk, Big Man, K.Old Elk), Ronan 3 (Burke 2, Cordova). Rebounds - Hardin 49 (Alden 8), Ronan 33 (McCrea 5, Ulutoa 5). Fouls - Hardin 24, Ronan 18.

First round

Whitefish 11 3 12 9 - 35

Billings Central 13 16 11 17- 57

WHITEFISH — Jadi Wilburn 3-7 12-4 8, Mikenna Ells 1-3 0-0 2, Brook Smith 1-4 3-3 5, Gracie Smyley 4-7 0-1 10, Ashton Ramsey 2-5 0-0 6, Erin Wilde 2-5 0-0 4, Taylor Means 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Robets 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 13-32 4-9 35.

BILLINGS CENTRAL — Solei Elletson 2-4 2-2 7, Mya Hansen 8-17 2-2 21, Molly Molvig 1-2 0-0 2, Belle Erickson 5-7 4-4 15, Maria Stewart 1-7 0-0 2, Lily Bland 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Kendall Wahl 2-2 0-2 4, Lauren Dull 0-1 0-0 0, Ellie Koerber 1-2 0-0 2, Hailey Euell 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 21-45 8-10 57.

3-point goals - Whitefish 5 (Ramsey 2, Smyley 2, Walburn), Central 7 (Hansen 3, Elletson, Koerber, Euell, Erickson). Rebounds - Whitefish 22 (Walburn 6), Central 25 (Molvig 5). Fouls - Whitefish 9, Central 13.