Cowgirls Down Fairview, 51-49

The Culbertson Cowgirls surprised Fairview, 51-49, in girls’ basketball action on Thursday, Jan. 25.

After trailing by a 14-7 margin at the end of the first quarter, the hometown Cowgirls started off well in the second quarter with an inside shot by Emma Berwick and a three-point play by Ayden Ator.

The scoring of Macy Tjelde led the Warriors to an 1814 advantage, but Culbertson pulled even on a free throw by Ator and three-point play by Leandra Perkins.

After a steal and layup by Destiny Thompson put the Cowgirls into the lead, four straight points by Payton Labatte produced a 23-18 halftime advantage.

Tjelde opened the third quarter with a basket, but Culbertson responded with the next six points on drives by Perkins, Ivy Colvin and Thompson. Colvin accounted for a three-point play later in the quarter to increase the margin to 32-24.

Ahead by a 38-31 margin, the Cowgirls struck for the final six points of the third quarter on two hoops by Berwick, including one off an assist from Mariana Burciaga, and a short jumper by Thompson for a 44-31 lead.

Thompson connected on two free throws to put the Cowgirls up 45-37 with 5:25 remaining, but Fairview’s full-court defensive pressure helped get the Warriors back into the game. A pair of baskets by Kallee Hopes and a basket after a steal by Carly Buxbaum cut the gap to 45-43 with still 3:22 to play.

The Cowgirls responded with a drive by Burciaga at the 2:33 mark. After Fairview’s Hopes hit two free throws, freshman Berwick came through for the Cowgirls with consecutive baskets for a 51-45 margin.

Hoops by Tjelde and Buxbaum got the Warriors as close as 51-49 with 50 seconds to play, but Culbertson’s defense stopped the Warriors down the stretch.

Leading the Cowgirls were Thompson and Berwick with 14 points each. Perkins finished with seven points. Labatte and Colvin added five points each.

Also scoring were Ator with four and Burciaga with two points.

Top scorers for Fairview were Tjelde with 22 and Hopes with 16 points.