Cowgirls Fall Short Against Circle

The season for Culbertson’s girls’ basketball team came to an end against Circle in loser-out action at the Eastern C divisional tournament in Sidney on Friday, March 4.

Circle won the defensive battle by a 29-27 final.

The Cowgirls fell behind 14-8 at the half and 20-10 early in the third quarter.

Culbertson’s comeback started when Megan Granbois hit a pair of free throws. A drive by Makena Hauge closed the margin to 20-12 with two minutes left in the third period.

After a turnaround shot by Circle’s Kayli Haynie, Destiny Thompson connected on a 17-footer to pull the Cowgirls to 22-14 at the end of the quarter.

Another basket by Thompson, a 5-9 sophomore, and a free throw by Granbois cut the margin to 22-17. The Cowgirls closed the gap to 22-19 on a steal and drive by Autumn Bergum with 2:49 left.

After Haynie hit a pair of free throws, the Cowgirls kept the pressure on with a free throw by Hauge and a basket off a rebound by Thompson. Circle was able to increase its lead to 27-22 on three free throws by Sierra Nagle. A three-pointer by eighth-grader Ayden Ator kept the Cowgirls within reach at 27-25 with 36 seconds left. After Circle’s Alexis Moline connected on two free throws with 21 seconds remaining, Granbois hit a 17-footer with six seconds left but the Cowgirls couldn’t get any closer.

Granbois led the Cowgirls with nine points. Thompson finished with six and Hauge scored five points.

Granbois finished with 10 rebounds. Hauge had three steals and two blocked shots.

Leading the Wildcats were Moline with 12 and Haynie with nine points.

Moline finished with eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Circle jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the first quarter and held as big as an eight-point lead in the second period.