Columbia Falls has talent and history on its side, and that might be enough to outlast the competition in the Northwest A girls basketball race.

The Wildkats are coming off a 20-2 season led by a strong senior class. Replacing Madi Hoerner’s rebounds and the scoring of Hannah Schweikert (16.2 ppg) and LaKia Hill won’t be easy, but Maddie Robison (12.9 points per game) gives them a start.

Coach Cary Finberg’s team is not alone: The league put three teams into the State A tournament in march, but Whitefish and Ronan also lost a lot of talent to graduation.

Coach Bob Bolum’s Bulldogs return no starters for a 15-8 team; seniors Erin Wilde and Taylor Means are the most experienced.

Ronan has two starters back in Dani Coffman and Lareina Cordova, but Maidens coach Steve Woll lost speedy Adriana Tatukivei to an Achilles injury, and three top guards besides. He’s looking at playing four freshmen to start the season.

Stepping into the void could be Browning, which boasts a top scorer in Mecca Bullchild.

Bolum is impressed by Polson point guard Julia Barnard, and feels the Pirates are on the upswing after a winless 2020-21.

Libby, also down a year ago, has Rylee Boltz and Taylor Munro back to lead the way.

The Kats, though, keep their favored status. They’re also the last Northwest A team to claim a state title, in 2017.