Culbertson Knocks Off Fusion

The Culbertson Cowboys opened district tournament play with a strong 69-31 victory over Richey/Lambert on Thursday afternoon.

The Cowboys jumped out to a 10-2 lead with the scoring of Mark Kirkaldie, Gavin Deen and Bridger Salvevold leading the charge. After a three-pointer by the Fusion’s Beau Mullin, Deen hit a short jumper for a 12-5 advantage to end the opening quarter.

A drive and three-point play by Brooks Solem got the Cowboys off to a good start in the second quarter. After Richey/Lambert’s Curtis Mullin made two free tosses, Culbertson ran off the next six points on hoops by Salvevold, Solem and Deen for a 23-7 lead.

The half ended with baskets by Salvevold and Ian Snyder to put the half-time margin at 31-11.

Three-pointers by Tanner Goosen and B. Mullin highlighted play for the Fusion early in the third quarter, but the scoring of Salvevold led the Cowboys to a 46-22 advantage at the end of the period.

Culbertson accounted for a 15-0 run during the fourth quarter for the 69-31 victory. The streak included three-pointers by Solem and Snyder.

Top scorers for the Cowboys were Salvevold with 19, Snyder with 14, Deen with 13 and Solem with 10.

Also scoring were Kirkaldie with eight, Plenny Williams with four and Aden Drake with one.

Dawson Bergum and Williams had three assists each.

B. Mullin led the Fusion with 12 points. Goosen and Austin Ververka added five points each.