Cowboys Come Back To Edge Bainville, 51-45
The Culbertson Cowboys began to completely turn the game around late in the third quarter and came away with a 51-45 win in Bainville on Friday, Jan. 13.
The Cowboys trailed by a 41-27 margin until exploding for 22 straight points on their way to the league victory.
Culbertson’s streak started when Colin Avance drove in for a basket with 1:12 left in the third quarter. After a free throw by Avance, a steal by Maurice Bighorn led to a layup by Dawson Bergum to close the gap to 42-32.
A steal and layup by Bighorn, a senior guard, cut the margin to 42-34 to end the quarter.
The Cowboys kept their momentum going into the fourth quarter. A drive by Bighorn and a three-pointer by Avance pulled Culbertson to 42-39. Mark Kirkaldie then scored off a rebound at the 6:11 mark.
After Kirkaldie took a charge, Culbertson grabbed the lead when Bridger Salvevold scored on an inbounds play with 4:50 remaining.
The Cowboys increased their advantage to 49-42 with the next six points when Bighorn scored off a long pass from Justice Bengochea, Salvevold battled inside for a basket and Bighorn drove in for another hoop with 2:21 left.
The Bulldogs fought back with a three-pointer by Ayden Knudsen with 2:05 remaining.
After the Bulldogs missed two three-point tries, Salvevold hit a short jumper with 1:03 left for a 51-45 advantage. Bainville missed on three other three-point attempts in the final minute.
Reaching double figures for the Cowboys were Bighorn with 14, Kirkaldie with 11 and Avance with 10 points.
Also scoring were Salvevold with nine, Payton Perkins with two, Bengochea with two, Bergum with two and Donte Eagleboy with one.
Leading Bainville were Samuel Butikofer with 14, Alex Strickland with 11 and Knudsen with 10 points.
Also scoring were Cayden Boyd with seven and Reese Harmon with three points.
Bainville led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. Two three-pointers by S. Butikofer and four points by Boyd increased the margin to 26-13.
A three-point play by Strickland ended the half on a high note for the Bulldogs as they enjoyed a 32-21 advantage at intermission.
