Cowboys Lose To Circle Squad

Culbertson’s boys played better as the contest went on but lost to Circle, 61-43, at home on Saturday, Jan. 9.

The Cowboys battled back on baskets by Hunter Lucas and Payton Perkins for a 6-6 tie midway into the first quarter. Circle used a three-point play by Hayden Lockie and coast-to-coast drive by Beau Beery to earn a 13-8 lead.

The Wildcats then reeled off the first six points of the second period on hoops by Beery, Lockie and Caleb Gackled for a 19-8 margin. The scoring of Perkins, Mike Pederson and Lucas kept the Cowboys close at 25-14.

Culbertson kept battling as another basket by Pederson and a three-pointer by Lucas pulled the Cowboys to 27-19. Circle led 32-23 at the half.

With Circle ahead by a 36-27 margin in the third quarter, the Wildcats ran off five straight points on 14-footers by Beery and Jace Curtiss along with a free throw by Lockie. The Cowboys cut the gap to 41-29 on a basket off a rebound by Colin Avance with 1:51 left in the period.

After four straight points by Lockie, Avance scored again for a 45-31 margin to end the third quarter.

Circle accounted for 16 points in the fourth quarter for the 61-43 final.

Leading the Cowboys with 13 points each were Lucas and Avance. Also scoring were Pederson with seven, Perkins with six, Isaiah Bighorn with two and James Kirkaldie with two.

Reaching double figures for Circle were Lockie with 23, Beery with 14 and Gackle with 13 points.

Culbertson hosts Savage on Friday, Jan. 15, and Fairview on Saturday, Jan. 16.