Cowgirls Come Game Short Of Divisional Berth

The Culbertson Cowgirls came just one game away from qualifying for the divisional tournament when they lost to Savage, 38-35, at the District 2C tournament on Friday, Feb. 19.

The young Culbertson battled all the way but couldn’t quite get over the hump down the stretch. Savage entered the fourth quarter with a 24-20 lead and increased the margin to 31-22 on the scoring of Brooke Reuter early in the fourth quarter.

A drive by Taryn Hagler and a three-point play by Cambry Conradsen put the Warriors up 35-25 with under three minutes to play.

After a free throw by Autumn Bergum, Makena Hauge hit a three-pointer to bring the Cowgirls to 35-29 with 2:02 left. Hauge made two free throws for a 35-31 game with 1:09 remaining.

Savage scored on a free throw by C. Conradsen, but a hoop by Megan Granbois kept the heat on at 36-33 with 51 seconds remaining.

A pair of free tosses by C. Conradsen put the Warriors ahead 38-33. Culbertson’s Alicyn Ator hit two free throws for a 38-35 score with just five seconds left. The Cowgirls then almost came up with a steal but fell three points short.

Hauge, a sophomore, led the Cowgirls with 19 points. Adding four points each were Granbois, Perla Burciaga and Ator. Bergum scored three and Destiney Thompson had one.

Leading Savage were Hagler with 14 and Reuter with 12 points.

Culbertson struck for the first quarter’s final three points on a free throw by Granbois and a basket by Ator to cut Savage’s lead to 11-10.

A three-pointer by Hauge gave the Cowgirls a 15-13 advantage in the second quarter, but Hagler fired in consecutive long shots to put Savage ahead 19-15 at the half.