Froid/Lake Stops Cowgirls, 48-37

A strong defensive effort highlighted Froid/Lake’s 4837 girls’ basketball victory at Culbertson on Friday, Jan. 2.

After Culbertson led by an 11-10 margin at the end of the opening quarter, the Red Hawks struck for the first four points of the second period on a three-pointer and free throw by eighth-grader Atley Jensen.

A free throw by Culbertson’s Charity Wilbanks cut the margin to two points, but Froid/Lake held the Cowgirls scoreless for the next three and a half minutes. Froid/ Lake gained a 21-13 lead on a 16-footer by Avery Johnson, a free throw by Leah Murray, a free toss by Isabelle Nordwick and two free throws by Jensen.

The scoring of Emma Berwick and Ivy Colvin closed the margin to 23-18. After Jensen made two free throws, Culbertson’s Anna Steppler scored off a steal by Bella Petersen for a 25-20 game.

The Red Hawks ended the half on baskets by Nordwick and Jordyn Breuer to take a 29-20 lead into the locker room.

Ahead by a 33-26 margin in the third quarter’s final minute, the Red Hawks finished the period on a high note when Keira Stentoft accounted for a three-point shot and a free throw for a 37-26 advantage.

The scoring of Colvin and Payton Labatte brought the Cowgirls back to 39-31 in the fourth quarter, but Jensen’s free-throw shooting kept the Red Hawks in the lead.

A three-point play by Nordwick along with a steal and drive by Jensen increased the gap to 48-35 with only 43 seconds remaining. Jensen led the Red Hawks with 18 points. Nordwick finished with seven points. Stentoft, Joelle Davidson and Laytyn Davidson had six points each. Also scoring were Johnson with three, Breuer with three and Murray with one.

Berwick scored 12 points for Culbertson. Labatte and Wilbanks added seven points each.

Rounding out the scoring were Petersen with four, Colvin with four, Steppler with two and Ayden Ator with one.