The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team finished the first half on a 13-0 run and used a big run in the second half to beat the Roseau Rams 76-65 in a Section 8AA matchup at the Roseau High School gymnasium. Crookston’s Hunter Nicholas scored 37 points and Matthew Contreras added 24.
FIRST HALF –
Crookston’s Hunter Nicholas scored the first basket of the game before Roseau’s Jordan Borowicz made a three-pointer for a 3-2 Ram lead. Crookston answered with a 6-0 run with baskets from Nicholas, Michael Deng, and Zachariah Ali for an 8-3 lead six minutes into the game. Crookston kept the lead around five to six points for several minutes and led 18-12 after a Matthew Contreras three-pointer with 8:40 left in the half. Roseau answered with an 11-2 run behind four different players scoring to take a 23-20 lead with 4:15 remaining in the half. The teams exchanged baskets and Roseau led 25-22 when Crookston ended the final 3:18 of the half on a 13-0 run. The run started with baskets from Jack Everett, Contreras, Nicholas, and Michaelson for a 30-25 lead with 26 seconds to go. Crookston’s Everett was fouled on a shot in the paint and got two free throws. A Roseau player also received a technical foul, giving Crookston two more free throws. Everett made all four shots with 5.1 seconds remaining. Crookston got the ball back and Rylan Lubarski got fouled on a three-pointer at the buzzer and made one free throw and Crookston took a 35-25 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
The teams exchanged baskets for the first two minutes of the half and Crookston led 41-32. Roseau’s Calvin Kingbird made a free throw and Austin Baumgartner made a basket to bring the Rams within a 41-35 deficit. Crookston’s Nicholas responded with a basket before the Rams’ Jake Borowicz made a basket. Crookston’s Nicholas went to grab a rebound and he was run into by Roseau’s Jake Borowicz who picked up his fifth foul and fouled out of the game with 13:59 left in the game and the Pirates leading 43-37. The teams exchanged baskets for the next four minutes and Crookston led 50-45 with 10:52 to go. Crookston had a big answer as Contreras and Nicholas made back-to-back three-pointers. After a Roseau basket, Nicholas scored four more points and the Pirates led 60-47 with 8:52 to go. Roseau made a free throw before Crookston’s Hunter Nicholas scored four more points for a 64-48 lead. Crookston led 67-54 when Contreras made a three-pointer and Nicholas scored four more points for a 74-54 lead with 3:15 remaining. Roseau made a run in the final minutes, but Crookston held on to win the game 76-65.
Crookston improves to 7-16 on the year and will host Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal on Monday. Roseau drops to 10-15 on the year.
J.V. – Crookston won 44-36
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 35 | 41 | 76 |
| Roseau | 25 | 40 | 65 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Steal/Assists |
| Hunter Nicholas | 37 | 14 | 2 assists/1 steal/1 block |
| Matt Contreras | 24 | 2 | |
| Jack Everett | 8 | 6 | 3 assists/2 steals |
| Tyler Michaelson | 2 | 3 | 2 assists |
| Michael Deng | 2 | 3 | 2 assists |
| Zachariah Ali | 2 | 2 | 2 steals |
| Rylan Lubarski | 1 | 6 | 5 assists/4 steals |
| For Roseau | Points |
| Jordan Borowicz | 27 |
| Jake Borowicz | 14 |
| Preston Hallie | 6 |
| Austin Barmgartner | 5 |
| Calvin Kingbird | 5 |
| Lincoln Buchwitz | 4 |
| Aden Evitts | 4 |
