Cowboys Fall To Circle In Opening Round

The Culbertson Cowboys struggled offensively in the first half and lost to Circle, 66-44, in the first round of the Eastern C divisional basketball tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Circle accounted for the game’s first 10 points including six by post Donovan Gibbs and four by Jace Curtiss.

After a steal by Donte Eagleboy, Culbertson’s Bridger Salvevold scored at the 4:20 mark of the opening quarter.

Salvevold then scored off an assist from Dawson Bergum to pull the Cowboys to 10-4.

Two three-pointers by Xavier Nasner helped increase Circle’s lead to 18-4 at the end of the quarter.

The Wildcats then ran off the first 14 points of the second period for a 32-4 advantage.

The Cowboys bounced back with a steal and layup by Bergum and a basket by Plenny Williams for a 32-8 half-time score.

Culbertson’s 2-2-1 press helped the Cowboys to a strong third quarter as the Cowboys outscored the Wildcats by a 21-11 margin in the period.

A 15-footer by Nyreece Halvorson and a tip-in by Salvevold got the Cowboys off to a good start in the half. Two drives by Gavin Deen closed the gap to 36-20.

The Cowboys struck for the last six points of the quarter on two baskets by Salvevold and a pair of free throws by Mark Kirkaldie for a 43-29 margin.

After a drive by Deen put the score at 46-31 with 7:17 left, the Wildcats accounted for the next 12 points including three-pointers by Kashus Ereaux and Owen Beery.

Scoring 10 points each for Culbertson were Bergum, Salvevold and Williams. Also scoring were Deen with six, Halvorson with four, Carson Solem with two and Kirkaldie with two.

Eagleboy had four steals in the game.

Top scorers for Circle were Gibbs with 17, Nasner with 15 and Beery with 11 points.

Curtiss and Gibbs had nine rebounds each.