Wildkats, Bulldogs’ third battle is for title

For the first time since 2006, there will be a Class A girls champion from the Northern conference crowned this Saturday at Smith Fields.

Seventeen years ago, it was Whitefish who lifted the trophy, and the next year, it was Belgrade, then in Class A. After that, the dominant Billings Central and Laurel girls combined for 15 titles. That streak was broken this fall, with both teams falling in quarterfinals.

This year, the Whitefish and Columbia Falls girls meet for the first time ever in a state final. Whitefish has been in a championship game in three of the past four years, but it’s been a little longer than that for Columbia Falls — the Wildkats last appeared in a state final in 2014, and won their only title in 2004.