Cowboys Fall Short Against Strong Lustre Christian Team
The Lustre Lions came out ready to play in their home boys’ basketball game against Culbertson on Saturday, Jan. 21.
The undefeated Lions put up 31 points in the first quarter in their 74-45 home victory.
Culbertson started on a positive note when Peyton Perkins scored on a drive off the opening tip. Lustre accounted for the next seven points on a steal and drive by Braden Ewing and five points by Elijah Lenihan.
The Cowboys battled back to 9-5 when Mark Kirkaldie hit a free throw and Bridger Salvevold connected on a 12-footer. A basket off a rebound by Salvevold pulled Culbertson to 9-7 with 4:07 left in the first quarter.
Lustre, using solid fullcourt pressure, accounted for the final 22 points of the quarter to earn a 31-7 advantage.
Lenihan, a 6-2 senior, got the streak going by hitting a three-pointer. After a steal by Jasiah Hambira, Lenihan scored on a fast break for a 14-7 lead.
Cayden Klatt then scored on a fast-break drive and a three-pointer for a 12-point lead. Two straight hoops by Lenihan, including one off a steal, put the margin at 23-7. After a turnaround shot by Braden Ewing, Lenihan drove in for another hoop.
Hambira scored the quarter’s final four points for a 31-7 margin.
The Lions increased the gap to 35-7 on basket by Hambira and a pair of free throws by Bryon Ewing to open the second quarter.
Culbertson got its offensive game going when Salvevold, Colin Avance and Dawson Bergum scored for a 39-14 margin.
Late in the half, Lustre put together a 10-0 run and held a 53-19 advantage at intermission.
Top scorers for Lustre with Lenihan with 22, Hambira with 16 and Klatt with 10 points.
Also scoring were Johnslee Pierce with seven, Byron Ewing with six, Braden Ewing with four, Clay Reddig with four, Alex Chen with three and Bryan Chen with two, Salvevold accounted for 25 of Culbertson’s points. Also scoring for the Cowboys were Kirkaldie with seven, Perkins with four, Justice Bengochea with four, Mo Bighorn with three, Avance with one and Bergum with one.
