Cougar hoopsters sweep Red Devils

The Columbus Cougar girls offense – which has often struggled in the first half of the season - came alive in the second and third quarters Friday against Huntley Project, with the Cougars handing the Red Devils a 43-32 defeat and snapping a four-game losing streak.
The Cougars slapped a press on the Devils late in the second quarter, and Kenedy Wiggs and Megan Rouane promptly picked up steals that led to Carli Dyba and Tana House layups to build a 20-11 Cougar halftime lead.
Columbus scored the first 10 points of the second half, as Wiggs fed Dyba for a 3-point play and freshman Alexa Riveland canned a three. House’s jumper at the third quarter buzzer built the lead to 40-13, and the Cougars cruised from there.
The Cougar boys completed the Red Devil sweep using a 13-4 run midway through the second quarter – fueled by a pair of Kiefer McKay threes – to build a 6-point halftime lead. Timely plays – like Chuck Miller’s reverse layup early in the fourth quarter – kept Project from drawing closer than five points, as the Cougar boys remained unbeaten in 4B play at 4-0.
Tanner Osborne led Columbus with 18 points and added several dazzling assists including a game-punctuating sequence late in the fourth. where the senior motored up court, eluded several Project defenders with behind-the-back dribbles, then whipped a pass to Ryland Stampfel alone under the basket.
It was Osborne’s 21 points the previous night that led to the Cougar’s 49-46 road win against Roundup. The Panthers pulled to within 45-44 with 40 seconds remaining, but Osborne and Stampfel made enough free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
The Columbus girls came up short against Roundup, dropping a 47-38 decision.
Both teams hit the road this week to play at Red Lodge Friday and Shepherd Saturday.

Columbus 8 8 12 10 – 38
Roundup 11 12 15 9 – 47
Columbus: Tana House 3, Megan Rouane 4, Alexa Riveland 2, Kenedy Wiggs 6, McCamey Miller 2, Tyona Robbins 5, Carli Dyba 8, Camryn Ault 8.
Roundup: Saydee Wolff 2, Samantha Bonenberger 6, Sydney Alt 2, Tori Gray 11, Hailey Kellum 18, Faith Nichols 8.

Huntley Project 8 3 4 17 – 32
Columbus 10 10 20 3 – 43
Huntley Project: Loran Murphy 1, Maggie Taylor 3, Lauren Sedgwick 3, Shaena Richard 2, Madison Rohrer 10, Lauren Frieling 3, Josie Peterson 10.
Columbus: Desirae Gibson 3, House 9, Rouane 5, Riveland 8, Wiggs 4, Robbins 6, Dyba 6, Ault 2.

Columbus 16 16 6 11 – 49
Roundup 12 9 16 9 – 46
Columbus: Kiefer McKay 13, Tanner Osborne 21, Chuck Miller 6, Ryland Stampfel 3, Jackson Booth 4, Jace Aumueller 2.
Roundup: Jayce Griffith 4, Dalton Salthe 12, Abel Armitage 8, Kelson Eiselein 19, Austin Kinn 3.

Huntley Project 12 9 6 17 – 44
Columbus 14 13 5 21 – 53
Huntley Project: Brayden Rose 4, Dallas Mack 7, Keenan Reynolds 4, Daylon Richard 3, Kaleb Reynolds 10, Dustin Oblender 5, Michael Jobman 9, Lane Sumner 2.
Columbus: McKay 15, Brandon Horton 2, Osborne 18, Miller 3, Stampfel 8, Booth 2, Aumueller 5.