Cougars split at Manhattan
The Columbus Cougar boys and girls basketball teams split four games at the Manhattan Tournament, both teams defeating Whitehall on Friday, then losing to Cut Bank on Saturday.
The girls walloped an overmatched Trojan team 57-15 as six Cougars scored at least five points. It was a different story on Saturday as, facing an up-tempo Wolves team, the Cougars fell behind 15-3 early. Junior Megan Rouane provided a third quarter spark, scoring six consecutive points and finding senior Tana House for a layup as Columbus rallied to lead 40-37 entering the fourth quarter.
But Cut Bank outscored Columbus 9-2 in the final three minutes to win 52-45. Rouane scored 14 points and added nine rebounds. House chipped in with 12 and eight, and senior Desirae Gibson added seven rebounds to her six points.
The Cougar boys dug an early 14-3 hole against Whitehall but outscored the Trojans 36-20 the rest of the way to win 39-34. Tanner Osborne led Columbus with 17 points, and junior Jace Aumueller pulled down 10 rebounds.
The tables were turned on the Cougars on Saturday as Columbus jumped out to a 20-10 lead but were outscored 16-0 over a five-minute stretch and trailed 30-28 at halftime. Osborne’s three at the third quarter buzzer gave Columbus a 44-42 lead, and Chuck Miller’s three midway through the fourth built the lead to 51-47.
But Columbus simply could not stop Cut Bank’s Seth Omsberg, whose 28 points led all scorers. Omsberg’s jumper sent the game into overtime, and his driving layup gave the Wolves the lead for good at 60-59, as the Wolves won 62-59. Senior Kiefer McKay led Columbus with 25 points and Osborne added 21.
Both teams wrap up their pre-holiday schedules by hosting Laurel on Friday and Shepherd on Saturday.
Columbus 3 12 13 11 — 39
Whitehall 14 7 5 8 —34
Columbus: Kiefer McKay 5, Tanner Osborne 17, Chuck Miller 4, Ryland Stampfel 4, Jackson Booth 5, Jace Aumueller 4.
Whitehall: E. Reinschmidt 5, J. Flynn 4, C. Noyes 2, M. Feight 18, A. Simon 5.
Cut Bank 10 20 12 14 6 — 62
Columbus 16 12 16 12 3 — 59
Cut Bank: Seth Omsberg 28, Evan Harrell 13, Wyatt Harwood 12, Kyle Brauhn 6, Dawson Matt 3.
Columbus: Kiefer McKay 22, Tanner Osborne 21, Jackson Booth 7, Jace Aumueller 4, Chuck Miller 3, Jack Gray 2.
Whitehall 0 3 9 3 — 15
Columbus 22 14 17 4 — 57
Whitehall: K. Welch 6, B. Welker 3, A. Benner 6.
Columbus: Tana House 8, Meagan Rouane 6, Alexa Riveland 10, Kenedy Wiggs 9, McCamey Miller 1, Tyona Robbins 2, Carli Dyba 7, Camryn Ault 2, Uluwehi Brooks 8, Kayla Teeters 4.
Cut Bank 17 10 1015 — 52
Columbus 10 12 18 5 — 45
Cut Bank: Dakota Dosch 18, Marissa VandenBos 15, Sarah Thies 10, Brylee CrossGuns 8, Jaycee Frydenlund 1.
Columbus: Megan Rouane 14, Tana House 12, Desirae Gibson 6, Alexa Riveland 4, Tyona Robbins 4, Carli Dyba 3, Maddi Carman 2.