Columbia Falls girls beat Lady Loggers, 49-27
Libby’s Jayden Winslow led the Lady Loggers in scoring against the Wildkats Feb. 1, but as with this attempt late in the fourth quarter, Libby’s efforts fell short of closing the point gap. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
By BENJAMIN KIBBEY
The Western News
The first half of Thursday’s Libby High School girls basketball game against Columbia Falls looked promising.
By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Loggers lead the Wildkats 10-6.
“First half, defensively, we were outstanding,” said Head Coach Wally Winslow. “We took ‘em off their spots and got them to do some things that they weren’t very comfortable with. The girls executed the game plan well.”
Yet, despite the efforts of seniors Shannon Reny and Brooklyn Rainer, Libby fell behind on scoring, and by halftime, Columbia Falls had edged ahead 14-13.
Libby made more of their shots in the third quarter with the efforts of juniors Jayden Winslow and Alli Collins, but the team began to look worn by the end of the quarter.
Winslow attributed part of the breakdown in the second half to his players losing momentum.
“(Columbia Falls) came out and got a couple good looks early in the second half, and then that kind of started changing their mindset,” he said. “You start to press yourself, and then you get a little out of defensive position. That’s a good team, and when you get out of defensive position, they’re going to break you down.”
In the first minutes of the fourth quarter, Jayden Winslow hit a three point shot, making the score 28-19, Columbia Falls. It was the Lady Loggers’ first points since she had made a field goal halfway through the third quarter.
Columbia Falls called a full timeout, and Winslow took the opportunity to pep his girls up.
“That’s the point in the game when we’re behind, we’re starting to get a little bit of a run, and you have to get up,” he said.
The Lady Loggers extended their defense to try to make a run, but the Wildkats expanded their lead through the remainder of the quarter.
“If you’re playing from behind in the second half, in the fourth quarter you’ve gotta extend your defense,” Winslow said. “And when you extend your defense, good teams have a pretty good chance to expose you.”
Despite the final score, Winslow said he told the team that while it was a 20-point game on the board, it wasn’t a 20-point game on the competitive end.
The showing the team made on defense in the first half was a step forward, he said.
“We took them off some spots, and stirred them up a little bit, and that’s good,” Winslow said.
“I can’t fault their effort,” he said. “I love these girls. They work so hard for me and each other.”
Columbia Falls 49, Libby 27
Columbia Falls: 6 8 14 21 — 49
Libby: 10 3 6 8 — 27
Libby: Alli Collins 5 points, 2-3 FT; Samantha Miller 1 points, 1-2 FT; Jayden Winslow 14 points;
Sammee Bradeen 1 points, 1-2 FT; Shannon Reny 5 points, 1-2 FT; Brooklyn Rainer 1 points, 1-4 FT
Columbia Falls: Dani Douglas 9 points; Savvy Ellis 3 points; Lakia Hill 3 points, 0-2 FT; Hannah Gedlaman 15 points, 1-3 FT; Ryley Kehr 10 points, 2-4 FT; Diana Vasquez 2 points; Trista Cowan 4 points; Josie Windauer 3 points, 1-4 FT