Columbus boys defeat Rams, Mustangs
The Columbus Cougars and Red Lodge Rams hoopsters swapped wins Friday night on the Rams’ home court, with the Lady Rams winning the opener 45-36 and the Cougar boys taking the nightcap 52-37.
The Lady Rams leapt out to a 15-2 advantage in the first quarter. But the margin quickly evaporated as the Cougars – behind strong inside play from Tyona Robbins and Desirae Gibson – pitched an 11-0 shutout in the second quarter to draw within 15-13.
A Carli Dyba jump shot early in the third gave Columbus its only lead at 20-19, but the Rams began the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run sparked by Kendell Prather’s inside bucket and a jump shot from Zoe Cortner.
Stephanie Kreamer then found Cortner on a fast break, and Kreamer followed that with two free throws at the one minute mark to give the Rams a 42-33 lead that put the game out of reach.
Robbins led the Cougars with 12 points. Cortner led the Rams with 14. Natalie Hilderman added 10 for Red Lodge.
Senior Tanner Osborne tallied 22 points, including 18 of the Cougars’ 25 first-half points, as Columbus pulled away from Red Lodge in the boys game. Ryland Stampfel added 11 points, including an up-and-under inside move early in the fourth quarter that gave Columbus a 41-22 lead. Ridge Tomlin led all Ram scorers with 13, and Nik Hardiman added 12.
The Columbus Cougar boys moved to 6-0 in District 4B, using a 41-26 second-half blitz to knock off Shepherd 63-43. Senior Kiefer McKay led the way with 24 points, while Osborne added 15.
The Cougar girls did not fare as well, falling behind 32-13 at halftime and losing 52-35 to unbeaten Shepherd. Gibson led the Cougar effort with eight points.
Both teams take a break from district play next week, traveling to Laurel on Friday and then hosting Three Forks on Saturday.
Columbus 2 11 12 11 – 36
Red Lodge 15 0 14 16 – 45
Columbus: Desirae Gibson 6, Tana House 2, Megan Rouane 2, Alexa Riveland 3, Kenedy Wiggs 4, Tyona Robbins 12, Carli Dyba 7.
Red Lodge: Taylor Hardiman 2, Portia Cortner 4, Stephanie Kreamer 5, Zoe Cortner 14, McCall Allen 2, Natalie Hilderman 10, Kendell Prather 8.
Columbus 9 14 16 13 – 52
Red Lodge 8 6 8 15 – 37
Columbus: Kiefer McKay 8, Tanner Osborne 22, Chuck Miller 7, Ryland Stampfel 11, Jake Aumueller 4.
Red Lodge: Rylan Connors 6, Elias Luoma 2, Gunnar Nelson 4, Ridge Tomlin 13, Nik Hardiman 12.
Columbus 5 8 10 12 – 35
Shepherd 9 23 11 9 – 52
Columbus: Desirae Gibson 8, Megan Rouane 2, Alexa Riveland 3, Kenedy Wiggs 2, Tyona Robbins 7, Carli Dyba 2, Camryn Ault 3, Maddi Carman 4, Uluwehi Brooks 2, Kayla Teeters 2.
Shepherd: Rylee McCartney 10, Taylor Buyse 6, Tonya Murray 10, Maddy Hinkle 3, Aimee Parker 4, Bailey Dougherty 2, Caitlyn Moran 2, Janie McRae 15.
Columbus 13 9 20 21 – 63
Shepherd 9 8 15 11 – 43
Columbus: Kiefer McKay 24, Tanner Osborne 15, Chuck Miller 7, Ryland Stampfel 11, Michael Jacobson 2, Jace Aumueller 4.
Shepherd: Hyrum Hanson 2, Chad Nebel 11, Wyatt Strahan 3, Jake Michels 4, Preston Salveson 11, Logan DeHaven 1, Sam Barthuly 11.