The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team used a 23-2 run to start the game and cruised to a 61-43 victory over the Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal Titans in game played in Ulen.
Crookston jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game with Isabelle Smith making a three-pointer to kick off the run. Halle Winjum and Libby Salentine added a basket apiece. The Titans stopped the run with a basket from Tiana Swanson, only to have Crookston respond with a bigger run. The Pirates went on a 16-0 run that started with Smith making a long two-pointer, Winjum added a three-pointer, Abby Borowicz burying a three-pointer, Winjum adding another three-pointer and three more free throws, and Emma Gunderson scoring a basket in the paint after a nice pass from Winjum for a 23-2 lead with six minutes left in the half. The final six minutes of the half was a little more even, with the Titans outscoring Crookston 10-8, and the Pirates took a 31-12 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
The start of the second half continued to be a back-and-forth battle, but Crookston outscored the Titans 12-8 in the first seven minutes for a 43-20 lead with 10:34 remaining. The teams continued to trade baskets, and Crookston led 52-31 when the Titan’s Sophie Lien made a three-pointer for the 1,000th point of her career to bring her team within a 52-34 deficit with four minutes remaining.
Both teams would score nine points apiece in the final four minutes and Crookston held on to win 61-43.
Crookston improves to 14-9 on the year and will take on Bagley on Friday. NCE/UH drops to 9-13 on the year.
FOR COACH DARIN ZIMMERMAN’S POST-GAME COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW-
Audio Player|
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1st
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2nd
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Final
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CROOKSTON
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31 | 30 | 61 |
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NCE/UH
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12 | 31 | 43 |
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For CROOKSTON
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Points
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Rebounds
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Assists/Steals
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| Halle Winjum | 27 | 8 | 8 assists/6 steals |
| Isabelle Smith | 10 | 3 | 2 assists |
| Abby Borowicz | 7 | 3 | 2 blocks |
| Joey Nesseth | 5 | 4 | 2 assists/1 steal |
| Macy Fee | 4 | 2 | |
| Chloe Boll | 4 | 3 | |
| Libby Salentine | 2 | 5 | 2 steals |
| Emma Gunderson | 2 | 3 | 2 assists |
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For NCE/UH
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Points
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| Sophia Lien | 16 |
| Jerran Mason | 9 |
| Tianna Swanson | 8 |
| Chloe Abraham | 4 |
| Annabelle Begg | 2 |
| Cassidy Abraham | 2 |
| Izzy Klemetson | 2 |
