Cowgirls Drop Opener Against Fairview


The Culbertson Cowgirls enjoyed a strong start but lost at home against Fairview, 53-33, to open their basketball season on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Three-pointers by Ivy Colvin and Ayden Ator led the Cowgirls to an 8-3 advantage during first quarter action.
Ahead by an 8-5 margin, Culbertson gained a 15-7 lead on another three-point shot by Ator and a three-point play, after a steal, by Emma Berwick.
Fairview closed the gap to 15-12 on a hoop by Kendall Vitt and a three-pointer by Carly Buxbaum, but a coastto- coast drive by Colvin put Culbertson up 17-12 at the end of the opening quarter.
A free throw by Berwick and a basket by Payton Labatte increased the lead to 2112, but the Warriors accounted for the next five points. After a basket by Berwick, Fairview struck for the final six points of the half to cut the margin to 23-22.
The Cowgirls opened the third quarter on a good note when Berwick scored inside. The Warriors took a 27-25 advantage on a turnaround shot by Buxbaum and a three-point play by Sophie Sundheim. After a 16-footer by Gracelyn Free put the Warriors up 29-25, the Cowgirls responded with the next three points on a free throw by Berwick and a baseline shot by Stella Fox.
Fairview’s standout Macy Tjelde accounted for the quarter’s final five points to put the Warriors up 34-28.
After Fairview tallied the first four points of the fourth period, Culbertson’s Labatte fired in a three-pointer. Fairview, however, struck for eight straight points for a 46-31 lead with 3:58 remaining.
Berwick led Culbertson with 12 points. Colvin finished with seven points. Labatte and Ator added six points each. Fox had two points.
Leading Fairview were Tjelde with 19 and Buxbaum with 18 points.
The Cowgirls will host Richey/Lambert on Friday, Dec. 20, and travel to Plentywood on Saturday, Dec. 21.