The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Basketball team’s Tanner Giese made a late three-pointer to give his team a two-point lead, and that was the difference in a 54-52 victory over the Menahga Braves in a Section 8AA game played in Menahga.
FIRST HALF
Crookston started the game with a Reggie Winjum three-pointer, but Menahga responded with a Bodie Berttunen three-pointer for a 3-3 tie in the first three minutes. The teams battled back and forth for the next seven or eight minutes, and Crookston led 15-13 when they went on an 8-0 run. Isaac Thomforde made back-to-back three-pointers, and Caden Boike added a basket for a 23-13 lead with less than six minutes left in the half. Crookston led 25-18 with four minutes left when they went on another 11-0 run behind five points from Reggie Winjum, and the Pirates took a 36-20 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston led 48-36 with 9:56 left in the game when Menahga went on a 16-2 run over an eight-minute span to take a 52-51 lead with two minutes remaining. The big shot of the game came from Tanner Giese when he made a three-pointer from the right wing to give Crookston a 54-52 lead with 1:24 left. Menahga wasn’t able to score on their next possession, and Crookston was fouled with 14.9 seconds left. It was a bonus situation where Crookston’s player shot a free throw, and if he missed, he didn’t get another shot, if he made it, he would get a second shot. The Pirates missed the free throw and got the rebound, and were fouled almost two seconds later on a shooting foul. Crookston missed both free throws but got the rebound again. With 6.7 seconds left, Crookston had another bonus free throw situation and missed the first shot, and Menahga got the rebound with 5.4 seconds left. After a time-out, Menahga inbounded the ball and drive inside the free throw line and took a shot with outstanding Pirate defense in front, the shot was short, and the Pirates held on for a 54-52 victory.
Crookston improves to 4-6 on the year and will host Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton on Monday night. Menahga drops to 2-7 on the year.
COACH GREG GARMEN’S POSTGAME COMMENTS ARE BELOW –
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1st
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2nd
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Final
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CROOKSTON
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36
|
18
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54
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Menahga
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20
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32
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52
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CROOKSTON
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Points
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Rebounds
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Assists/Steals
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Isaac Thomforde
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16
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3
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2 steals
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Tanner Giese
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12
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3
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2 steals
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Hunter Nicholas
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10
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15
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4 steals
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Reggie Winjum
|
8
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2 assists
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Caden Boike
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6
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Ryan Abeld
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2
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3 steals/2 assists
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For Menahga
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Points
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Brayden Aho
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18
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Brodie Berttunen
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15
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Blaise Anderson
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10
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Brock Berttunene
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4
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Ryan Tolkkinen
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3
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Carder Jettmann
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2
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