The Crookston Pirates Boys Basketball team trailed by five with five minutes left in the game and went on an 11-0 run and made their free throws in the final minutes to beat the Park Rapids Panthers 55-44 in a Section 8AA game played at the Crookston High School gymnasium.
The game was back and forth in the first half and even with three starters on the bench in foul trouble late in the half Crookston took a two-point lead (24-22) after a Josh Bernia layup. “We had three starters on the bench with two fouls each early with Walker (Winjum), Brady (Butt) and Nick (Garmen). We had some turnovers late, but we were up two at halftime so that was big.”
In the second half, Crookston led 26-24 when Park Rapids went on an 8-0 run over a two-minute span to take a 32-26 lead. Park Rapids led 37-32 when Crookston picked up the defense and slapped a full court press on the Panthers and it worked to perfection. Park Rapids turned the ball over the first time the first time they faced the press, but the Panthers led 42-35 with 5:11 left in the game. Crookston continued the tough defense and it started paying off as they went on an 11-0 run with Caden Osborn scoring the first basket, followed by a Nick Garmen three-pointer and after Nick’s big basket, younger brother Jack Garmen took a charge. “They were struggling with our 1-3-1 defense and we were almost getting some 10 counts and we forced some turnovers,” said Coach Greg Garmen. “Jack hung in there to take a charge and they are big plays because it takes momentum away and the nice crowd we had got loud.” Nick wouldn’t let his younger brothers charge go to waste as he recorded a layup after a pass from Easton Tangquist to tie the game at 42. Nick Garmen followed with two free throws in the bonus and Caden Osborn grabbed a defensive rebound, was fouled and made two free throws with 2:33 remaining in the game and Crookston led 46-42. Park Rapids turned the ball over on the next possession and the Pirates missed the shot, but Jack Garmen (the freshman in his first varsity start) grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on the shot attempt and he made both free throws for a 50-44 lead with 1:23 remaining. The Pirate free throw contest continued the rest of the way with Osborn making one and Nick Garmen making four in a row and Crookston held on to the ball in the final seconds to secure a 55-44 come from behind victory. “It was up and down for a bit and I thought later in the game we picked up our defense,” said Coach Garmen. “It was good we were able to knock down our free throws down the stretch. We haven’t scored much late in the game the past few games so it was nice to do it tonight. We had a different lineup tonight and that is the way it will be for a while so we have to get used to it, but the guys made some plays when we needed them. We needed a win and like Coach Tom Anderson said, it was nice to see a smiling locker room.”
Crookston improves to 4-8 on the year and will travel to Wadena on Friday to take on the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines at 7:30. We will have the game on KROX Radio after the UMC Women’s basketball game that starts at 5:30 p.m. Park Rapids drops to 4-7 on the year.
J.V. – Park Rapids won 59-32
| 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final | |
| Park Rapids | 22 | 22 | 44 |
| CROOKSTON | 24 | 31 | 55 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Nick Garmen | 27 | 4 steals | |
| Caden Osborn | 14 | 16 | 5 blocks/3 steals |
| Jack Garmen | 8 | ||
| Walker Winjum | 2 | ||
| Josh Bernia | 2 | ||
| Brady Butt | 2 | 4 |
| For Park Rapids | Points |
| Gabriel Bagstad | 26 |
| Ty Karger | 6 |
| Jeff Haas | 5 |
| Nicholas Michaelson | 4 |
| Preston Renneberg | 3 |
