The Blue Devils are still smiling, even after finishing second at the Western A Divisional in Hamilton on Saturday night. The Columbia Falls WildKats may have taken the top spot, but these girls from Corvallis are the first in the school’s history to advance to the state girls basketball tournament. Now, they will take on Belgrade at the Class A state tournament this Thursday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Butte Civic Center.
Are they disappointed that they didn’t win the championship? Yes, a bit. But in Corinne Sanderson’s words, “We’re all smiles here.”
Corvallis’ Cinderella story began on Thursday when they took on Frenchtown. This was a low scoring game with Corvallis edging Frenchtown by two points, 39-37. The Blue Devils took the lead when Penny Jessop hit a short jumper. Calla Haldorson sank one of two free throws and then Lainie Albright hit a long trey for a five-point margin. However, Frenchtown’s Lexi Statelen hit two free throws and Shannon Worster hit a jumper to pull back within a point. Jessop sank two free throws and then pulled down a huge rebound for the Blue Devils. Sanderson and Emme Warnken each hit a free throw with less then 30 seconds remaining. Frenchtown scored once more but it was not enough. Sanderson had 18 points and three rebounds in the upset.
Corvallis 39, Frenchtown 37
Frenchtown – Delaney 4, Williams 3, Statelen 7, Willett 3, Channer 1, Worster 8, Hinrichs 5, Hochhalter 6.
Corvallis – Penny Jessop 4, Calla Haldorson 8, Emme Warnken 4, Corinne Sanderson 18, Lainie Albright 3, Tayler Wright 2.
Next up for the Blue Devils were the Lady Beavs of Beaverhead County, the No. 1 seed from the south. Dillon advanced to the semi finals after defeating Stevensville on Thursday. The two teams had split their games during the regular season with Corvallis winning in Dillon and Dillon winning in Corvallis. Coach Andy Knapp’s strategy was to keep Dillon’s Brynley Fitzgerald from getting hot early.
“Fitzgerald means so much to that team,” said Knapp. “We just didn’t want her to get going. She got us pretty early in our last game and we did not want that to happen.”
With one and most times two Blue Devils on Fitzgerald’s back and in front of her, the defensive strategy worked. Corvallis was able to stop Dillon’s ace completely. During the season, Fitzgerald averaged just over 15 points a game but in this game, she only made two points. While the defense was working hard, so was the offense. Corvallis attacked the basket early and quickly built up a lead. By halftime, the Blue Devils had doubled the Lady Beavs. Dillon made a run early in the fourth quarter and closed the gap to only five points. But then Haldorson hit a couple of free throws to increase the margin. Once more, with four minutes remaining, Dillon’s Bailey Berriochoa hit a couple of shots to bring Dillon back within four points but that was as close as they would get. Corvallis went on to win, 52-44. The win secured their trip to state.
“We had a good mindset coming off that Frenchtown win,” said Sanderson. “It really just rolled over.”
Corvallis 52, Dillon 44
Dillon – Rouse 7, Christiansen 8, Truman 8, Berriochoa 17, Fitzgerald 2, Tatarka 2.
Corvallis – Jessop 12, Haldorson 11, Warnken 9, Sanderson 15, Keith 2, Wright 3.
Columbia Falls came into the title game with only one loss in the season, to Class AA Missoula Sentinel. They were the runner up to Butte Central in the state last year and have only gotten better this year. Tall, strong and deadly on both offense and defense, the WildKats were a tough opponent for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils were on their game in the first quarter and played Columbia Falls to a 20-20 tie. Knapp said his team did what they needed to do to slow Columbia Falls down. Emme Warnken hit three of five long-range bombs to keep Corvallis in the mix. Sanderson and Jessop snagged several defensive rebounds, causing Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg to call a time out and get after his team. As the second quarter ticked down, Columbia Falls began to stretch the lead and led by 10 at the half. They went on to win, 71-40.
“Our girls worked hard,” said Knapp. “But everything they do, they do well.”
Columbia Falls 71, Corvallis 40
Columbia Falls – Douglas 11, Finberg 10, Sova 2, Kehr 15, Kehr 5, Burlage 14, Hovde 14.
Corvallis – Jessop 6, Haldorson 5, Sydney Powell 2, Warnken 17, Sanderson 5, Hannah Hutchison 2, Lainie Albright 2, Molliegh Siebenaler 1.
Warnken summed up Corvallis’ expectations for the state tournament: “We have no pressure. No one’s ever done what we’ve done.”