BUTTE - The Columbia Falls Wildkats learned a tough lesson Thursday in opening-round play at the Montana High School Association 2009 State Class A Girls Basketball Tournament at the Butte Civic Center - never let up defensively.

The Wildkats saw their 10-point lead at halftime on Hamilton turn in to a tough 51-48 loss in overtime.

"It's a good learning experience for the younger girls," said Columbia Falls coach Dan Fairbank. "Hopefully they'll be able to learn from this and carry it over to next year and to tomorrow. The lesson really is that we can never let up defensively."

Cierra Smith got things started in overtime for Hamilton with a 3-point field goal. Columbia Falls, however, took the lead back, 46-45, on baskets by Kayla DeWit and Shay Grilley.

The Broncs fired back with a field goal and a free throw to go on top for good, 48-46.

Hamilton went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line to complete its scoring, and Kelsey DeWit added a field goal for Columbia Falls just before the buzzer.

"When we went into overtime it was like here we go again; another important game going into overtime. Just like at divisionals," Kayla DeWit said. "I thought we could pull it off, but we weren't able to."

The Wildkats came out strong on both ends of the court in the first quarter putting up 12 points, six of which were scored by Kayla DeWit. Hamilton scored just two points.

"We came out in the beginning really ready," DeWit said. "We ran our offense the way we know how. You could tell we really wanted it."

Both teams had 10-point quarters in the second.

The Broncs went on a 6-2 run to open the second half, but Columbia Falls ultimately outscored Hamilton 15-13 in the third as Kelsey DeWit accounted for eight points and Alyssa Ladenburg scored seven. The Wildkats took a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter.

With 2:39 left in play, Smith's 3-point field goal put Hamilton on top 39-38.

Grilley's field goal put the Wildkats back on top, but Smith answered with another three. Smith finished with seven treys in the game and led the Broncs in scoring with 21 points.

"Our defense stopped moving and they were able to get some outside shots," Fairbank said. "We couldn't get the kids to adjust to that."

With 50 seconds left in regulation, Kayla DeWit hit two free throws to tie it at 42.

Hamilton had the final shot with three seconds remaining, but missed. Kelsey DeWit snagged the rebound as time ran out.

"We just didn't execute the press very well," Kelsey DeWit said. "We usually handle pressure very well, but we just got scared and didn't play our game."

Kelsey DeWit led the Wildkats with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Kayla DeWit contributed 15 points and pulled down a team-high 18 rebounds. Ladenburg finished with 12 points, three assists and two steals.

"I'm pretty frustrated right now and wanting revenge," Kelsey DeWit said. "So I think tomorrow will be a much better game for us."

The Wildkats turned the ball over 17 times, while Hamilton had just seven. Columbia Falls also struggled from the line, going 6-for-16.

"We had an opportunity to put another 10 points on the board right there," Fairbank said. "We could've won it in regulation if we would have made more of our shots from the line."

The Wildkats, 13-8 overall, will face Glendive, 20-1, at 12:30 p.m. today in a loser-out game. Hamilton, 16-6, advances on to play Havre, 15-6, at 6:30.

"It's really exciting to be here," Kelsey DeWit said. "We could've won that game, but we didn't. So now we just have to forget about it and move on."

Hamilton 2 10 13 17 9 - 51

Columbia Falls 12 10 15 5 6 - 48

HAMILTON (16-6) - Misha Trotter 3-7 1-2 8, Ali Mildenberger 0-0 0-2 0, Cierra Smith 7-15 0-0 21, Ashley Albert 2-20 3-5 7, Annie Schultz 3-13 1-2 10, Averyl LaSalle 1-1 0-1 2, Kaurie Albert 1-2 0-0 3, Ashley Hayes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-58 5-12 51.

COLUMBIA FALLS (13-8) - Dani Gilley 0-0 0-0 0, Kayla DeWit 6-16 3-4 15, Alyssa Ladenburg 5-13 2-6 12, Shay Grilley 2-7 0-0 4, Kelsey DeWit 8-15 1-4 17, Ashli Fairbank 0-0 0-0 0, Brook Cady 0-2 0-2 0, McKenzie Reeve 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 6-16 48.

3-point goals - Hamilton 12-35 (Schultz 3-6, A. Albert 0-8, Trotter 1-4, Smith 7-15, K. Albert 1-2), Columbia Falls 0-1 (Ladenburg 0-1). Fouled out - none. Total fouls - Hamilton 15, Columbia Falls 14. Technicals - none. Rebounds - Hamilton 27 (Schultz 8), Columbia Falls 50 (Kayla DeWit 18, Kelsey DeWit 15). Blocks - Hamilton 4 (A. Albert 4), Columbia Falls 1 (Kelsey DeWit). Assists - Hamilton 12 (A. Albert 4), Columbia Falls 5 (Ladenburg 3). Steals - Hamilton 5 (Trotter 2), Columbia Falls 4 (Ladenburg 2). Turnovers - Hamilton 7, Columbia Falls 17.

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Glendive 11 8 5 13 - 37

Havre 3 10 14 11 - 38

GLENDIVE (20-1) - Abbey Dufner 0-2 0-0 0, Kyla Johnson 1-1 2-3 4, Hannah McPherson 2-5 2-2 4, Carly Selvig 6-18 3-4 15, Blair Milne 5-9 1-3 11, Katie Turner 0-0 0-0 0, Sadie Sampson 0-0 0-0 0, Lillian Temple 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-35 8-12 37.

HAVRE (15-6) - Sarah Blessum 1-11 6-6 9, Cassi Darrah 0-6 3-4 3, Hayley Donovan 3-6 1-1 7, Hope Hedges 3-6 1-3 8, Karly Evans 1-3 4-4 7, Madison Ruff 1-1 0-0 2, Cali Freier 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 10-34 15-19 38.

3-point goals - Glendive 1-3 (McPherson 1-2, Dufner 0-1), Havre 3-8 (Blessum 1-3, Hedges 1-1, Evans 1-2, Darrah 0-2). Fouled out - Johnson. Total fouls - Glendive 17, Havre 11. Technicals - none. Rebounds - Glendive 26 (Selvig 10, Blair 8), Havre 23 (Darrah 6, Donovan 4). Blocks - Glendive 10 (Selvig 9, McPherson), Havre 0. Assists - Glendive 2 (Dufner, Selvig), Havre 3 (Hedges 2, Blessum). Steals - Glendive 5 (Selvig 3, Dufner 2), Havre 7 (Hedges 3, Blessum 2, Donovan, Freier). Turnovers - Glendive 15, Havre 14.