GREAT FALLS — That was easy.

Top-ranked and once beaten Columbia Falls crushed Belgrade 70-29 on Thursday afternoon in first-round action at the Class A state girls basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena.

Columbia Falls bolted to a 21-6 lead after eight minutes of play, held a commanding 37-9 advantage at the half and never looked back.

“I was very happy with the way they came out,” Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said.

“You never know how kids will react at state. They played aggressive from the start. They played with a lot of confidence.”

The Wildkats (20-1) displayed a balanced offensive attack with 11 players figuring in the scoring. Haley Belgarde topped the list with 14 points. Cydney Finberg was next with 12.

Finberg led the offensive display in the opening half with nine points.

“For a freshman to come out and play like she did, that was very nice to see,” coach Finberg said of Cydney.

“She played with a lot of poise.

“When your point guard plays with poise, it settles everyone else down.”

Coach Finberg said Belgarde was just as impressive.

“She did a good job of being very aggressive,” he said.

“She played another solid game today.

“Everybody really stepped up.”

Alexis Clingingsmith led Belgrade (9-14), and all scorers, with 15 points.

Belgrade shot just 13 percent (3 of 23) in the opening half and 21.2 percent (11 of 52) for the game.

Columbia Falls hit 58.5 percent of its shots from the field (31 of 53) and was perfect at the free-throw line (5 of 5).

Columbia Falls dominated board play, 38-18, led by Belgarde and Ellie Johnson. Both had six.

Finberg also led in assists with four and steals with three.

The victory advances the Wildkats to semifinal action tonight at 6:30 versus Hamilton (18-3). The Broncs edged Miles City (16-5) 46-42.

Belgrade and Miles City will face off in loser-out play at 12:30 p.m.

Columbia Falls beat Hamilton 48-34 in the Southwestern A versus Northwestern A Tip-Off Tournament back on Dec. 14, 2013. That was the second game of the season.

“They’re a quality basketball team,” coach Finberg said of Hamilton.

“Ranked second in the state.

“Again, if we can do what we have done all season long, it’s a game we can win. We have an advantage size wise.”

Another thing the Wildkats have going for them is their steady play.

“Not a lot of highs, not a lot of lows,” coach Finberg said.

“’They just keep plugging away.”

Class A state girls

basketball tournament

Great Falls

Four Seasons Arena

Thursday

First-round games

Columbia Falls 70, Belgrade 29

Belgrade 6 3 4 16 — 29

Columbia Falls 21 16 20 13 — 70

Belgrade (9-14) — Kindall Bethke 0-4 0-0 0, Sadie Reddick 1-3 0-0 2, Alexis Clingingsmith 6-14 0-0 15, Taylor Salsbury 0-1 0-0 0, Skyla Neubauer 0-2 0-0 0, Madison Page 0-4 0-0 0, Erin Singleton 2-10 0-0 6, Tanna Holliday 1-5 1-2 3, Shaylee Ragar 1-6 0-0 3, Jamie Woolman 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 11-52 1-2 29.

Columbia Falls (20-1) — Summer Burlage 3-4 0-0 6, Ciera Finberg 3-10 1-1 7, Sydney Grilley 3-3 0-0 7, Cydney Finberg 5-8 2-3 12, Ellie Johnson 0-3 2-2 2, Andrea Getts 3-5 0-0 6, Winter Kemppainen 3-4 0-0 6, Miranda Livingston 2-2 0-0 4, Kiara Burlage 1-1 0-0 2, Allyson Gimbel 2-2 0-0 4, Haley Belgarde 6-10 2-2 14, Peyton Kehr 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 31-53 5-5 70.

Total fouls: Belgrade 7, Columbia Falls 5. Fouled out: none. 3-pointers: Belgrade 6-27 (Clingingsmith 3-7, Singleton 2-6, Ragar 1-5), Columbia Falls 3-9 (Grilley 1-1, Cyd. Finberg 2-3). Rebounds: Belgrade 18 (Holliday 4), Columbia Falls 38 (Johnson 6, Belgarde 6). Assists: Belgrade 6, Columbia Falls 24 (Cyd. Finberg 4). Steals: Belgrade 6, Columbia Falls 10 (Cyd. Finberg 3). Turnovers: Belgrade 12, Columbia Falls 13.

Hamilton 46, Miles City 42

Hamilton 9 10 9 18 — 46

Miles City 5 13 10 14 — 42

Hamilton (18-3) — Mckayl Rothie 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Goligoski 5-15 6-10 17, Ellie Hurlbert 1-1 0-0 2, Jaylee Albert 4-12 7-8 17, Kali Hayes 0-3 1-2 1, Brianna Huggans 3-8 2-8 9, Shaylan Mohn 0-1 0-0 0, Sami Kratofil 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 13-43 16-28 46.

Miles City (12-10) — Tori Swope 1-3 1-2 3, Makena Ellingson 1-1 2-3 4, Beth Sutter 1-8 5-8 7, Ashlie Larson 4-7 0-0 10, Shaylee Singleton 2-8 3-5 8, Halie Warren 1-3 0-0 2, Jenna Swope 1-2 1-1 3, Kadie Heinle 2-6 0-1 4, Amy Blaquiere 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 13-38 12-21 42.

Total fouls: Hamilton 18, Miles City 21. Fouled out: Sutter. 3-pointers: Hamilton 4-16 (Giligoski 1-3, Albert 2-8, Huggans 1-2), Miles City 4-12 (Larson 2-4, Singleton 1-3, Swope 1-1). Rebounds: Hamilton 27 (Goligoski 7), Miles City 34 (Sutter 8, Singleton 8). Assists: Hamilton 6, Miles City 8 (Warren 3). Steals: Hamilton 8, Miles City 2. Turnovers: Hamilton 5, Miles City 13.

Laurel 52, Anaconda 38

Anaconda 5 15 9 9 — 38

Laurel 11 13 13 15 — 52

Anaconda — Taylor Flynn 3-8 3-4 9, Lacee Moodry 2-7 0-0 6, Kiernan Gallagher 2-11 2-3 8, Courtney Moodry 2-17 1-3 6, Molly Huber 2-5 1-2 5, Khali Knadler 0-3 0-0 0, Tyler Baustadt 1-6 0-0 2, Shea Forsberg 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 13-61 7-12 38.

Laurel — Lexi Lewis 7-11 3-8 17, Allie McGrath 1-15 14-16 17, Taylor Ludwig 0-1 0-0 0, Dalayna Christenson 2-6 1-3 5, Hailey Spitzer 1-2 1-2 3, Paige Hodges 0-1 0-0 0, Abbie Lohof 2-7 6-8 10. Totals: 13-43 25-37 52.

Total fouls -- Anaconda 24, Laurel 17. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none. 3-point goals -- Anaconda 5-22 (L. Moodry 2, Gallagher 2, C. Moodry), Laurel 1-7 (McGrath). Rebounds -- Anaconda 30 (Knadler 6), Laurel 18 (Lohof 15, Christenson 11). Assists -- Anaconda 11 (C. Moodry 4), Laurel 6 (McGrath 3). Turnovers -- Anaconda 5, Laurel 17.

Havre 60, Frenchtown 41

Havre 14 21 12 13 — 60

Frenchtown 11 11 6 13 — 41

Havre (15-6) — Breck Don 0-1 2-2 2, Brandy Lambourne 5-10 11-12 21, Dani Wagner 2-4 2-2 6, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 1-4 2-4 4, Naomi Terry 0-1 0-0 0, Lacey Waid 3-4 2-4 8, Peyton Filius 2-9 8-13 12, Tori Mazurkiewicz 1-1 1-2 3, Haley Ohm 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 16-36 28-39 60.

Frenchtown (15-7) —- Emma Pyron 0-1 0-0 0, Haley Cyr 1-3 0-0 2, Vanessa Stavish 4-16 7-12 15, Kayla Blood 2-9 2-3 7, Alli Moe 0-1 0-0 0, Brooke Yarnall 0-3 2-4 2, Krista Hebnes 0-0 1-2 1, Keegan Wickman 1-3 6-6 8, Lacey Hochhalter 3-9 0-0 6, Laci Willett 0-2 0-2 0. Totals: 11-47 18-29 41.

Total fouls -- HAVRE 21, FRE 29. Fouled out -- Blood. 3-point goals -- Havre 0-3, FRE 1-8 (Blood). Rebounds -- HAVRE 32 (Wagner 8), FRE 31(Stavish 8). Assists -- HAVRE 11 (Filius 4), FRE 8 (Blood 3). Turnovers -- Havre 17, FRE 18.