PELICAN RAPIDS RUNS AWAY WITH A VICTORY OVER PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL

The Pelican Rapids Vikings scored 53 first-half points and cruised to a 79-37 victory over the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team i in a Section 8AA matchup at the Crookston High School Gymnasium

FIRST HALF-
Pelican Rapids used suffocating defense and a combination of three-pointers and three-point plays to build a 19-2 lead over three minutes into the game. Charlie Larson’s six points led the Vikings, while Timmy Guler and Luke Sjolie had five points each.
Crookston’s Hunter Nicholas stopped the run with a basket before Pelican Rapids’ Guler buried and converted a three-point play for a 19-4 lead. The Vikings used full-court pressure to build a 35-12 lead before Crookston went on a 7-0 run with six points from Isaac Thomforde and a Brannon Tangquist free throw to get within a 35-19 lead. Pelican Rapids continued to score at a high pace and ended the half on an 18-6 run to take a 53-25 lead into halftime.
Pelican Rapids made seven three-pointers and added three three-point plays for 30 of their 53 first-half points. Pelican Rapids was 14 of 18 at the free throw line in the half, while Crookston was 9 of 14 from the line.

SECOND HALF –
Crookston started the second half with the ball, but Pelican Rapids forced a turnover and the Vikings Charlie Larson made a three-pointer. After Crookston missed two free throws, the Vikings responded with a Luke Sjolie three-pointer for a 59-25 lead.  Pelican Rapids led 65-30 and went on a 10-0 run in the middle of the half, with four different players scoring for a 75-30 lead with nine minutes left in the game. Running time kicked in at the nine-minute mark, and both teams played every player who dressed. A highlight for Crookston was 6’5 Sophomore Peter Wiersma grabbing his first varsity rebounds and Zachariah Ali recording his first varsity points.
Pelican Rapids ended up winning the game 79-37.  Pelican Rapids made 18 of their 25 free throw attempts, while Crookston only made 13 of 27. 

Crookston drops to 0-2 on the year and will travel to East Grand Forks to take on the Green Wave on Tuesday. Pelican Rapids improved to 2-0 on the year while beating their first two opponents by a combined 72 points.
J.V. – Pelican Rapids won 58-37

To hear Coach Greg Garmen’s comments, CLICK HERE. 

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