BIG TIMBER -- The Big Timber girls basketball team held a four-point lead over Southern B foe Columbus at halftime, but the Sheepherders outscored the Cougars 20-0 in the third quarter en route to a 55-34 win at home on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten.
Leading 26-22 at halftime, Big Timber opened the third quarter with 3-pointers from Bailey Finn, Darby Johnston and Kameryn Ketcham to open things up. Another Finn triple and a steal by Emily Cooley leading to a coast-to-coast layup punctuated the Herders' impressive eight-minute spurt.
"We were a little slow offensively and defensively (in the first half)," Big Timber head coach Kim Finn said of the halftime adjustments. "Offensively I just said we need to move the ball faster, then get up and down the floor quicker, because we're a running team. (We) needed to get our inside-outside game going, because Emily Cooley is a big part of it, so just move the ball around more."
Columbus never threatened in the fourth quarter, as the Herders were able to cruise to their eighth consecutive win. Most of the wins during that streak have been in blowout fashion, too.
"I was really excited for (Tuesday) because I knew Columbus is a good team. I just wanted to see if we're where I think we are," Kim Finn said. "The first half was a little scary, but the second half we played like we can. I was proud of how they showed up in the second half, so it made me feel like we're where we should be right now."
Bailey Finn led all scorers with 17 points. Cooley added 13 for Big Timber.
The Columbus boys weren't going to allow a sweep on Tuesday night. The Cougars grabbed a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter after Colby Martinez beat the horn with a long-range bomb, which was just the beginning of a big night for the junior.
Martinez poured in 12 points in the second quarter to push Columbus' lead to 30-14. Big Timber cut into the deficit slightly in the third quarter, but the Cougars eventually put the Herders away for a 54-35 win. Martinez wound up with a game-high 32 points and was the only Columbus player in double figures.
