Bainville Boys Qualify For Divisional With Victory Over Culbertson, 55-52

The Bainville Bulldogs punched their ticket to the divisional boys’ basketball tournament by fighting off Culbertson, 55-52, at the District 2C tourney on Saturday, Feb. 18.

After Culbertson came back to take a 47-45 lead on an inside basket by Colin Avance at the 3:31 mark, Bainville’s Alex Strickland connected on a 16-footer. A free throw by Bridger Salvevold got the Cowboys a point closer, but Strickland then hit a pair of free tosses for a 51-48 margin.

The Cowboys kept the heat on when Donte Eagle Boy scored off a pass from Avance with 1:17 left.

Bainville’s Reese Harmon then stepped up with a threepoint shot to put the Bulldogs ahead 54-50 with only 39 seconds left.

After a steal, Sam Butikofer added a free throw with 15 seconds remaining for a 55-50 advantage.

Avance scored for Culbertson with five seconds left, but the Cowboys couldn’t get the ball back.

Top scorers for Bainville were S. Butikofer with 15, Strickland with 14 and Ayden Knudsen with 12 points. Also scoring were Charles Butikofer with nine and Harmon with five.

Leading the Cowboys were Avance with 17 and Eagle Boy with 16 points.

Rounding out the scoring were Mo Bighorn with seven, Mark Kirkaldie with five, Salvevold with four and Payton Perkins with three points.

Avance had 13 rebounds in the contest.

Bainville led by a 26-19 margin at the half and held a 39-34 lead after three quarters of play.

Culbertson tied the game at 39-39 on a basket by Avance and a three-point play by Kirkaldie to open the fourth quarter.