The Crookston Pirate 4th Grade Girls basketball team took home the championship at the 32nd annual Crookston Youth Basketball Association Tournament.
In their first game, the Pirates beat the Northern Freeze 26-20. In the semifinal, Crookston beat Riverside Christian 37-5 victory.
The championship matchup was set against the East Grand Forks Greenwave, a familiar opponent. The game drew a big crowd, with fans eager to see two local teams go head-to-head for the title. The Pirates’ defense set the tone early, as they built a 12-2 lead going into halftime. EGF came out strong in the second half, scoring quickly, but Crookston held their ground, playing solid team basketball, cruising to a victory and securing the championship by a score of 24-12.
With the win, the Crookston Pirates 4th Grade Girls CYBA team finished their season with an impressive 19-1 record and four tournament championships.
Coach’s Comments: “I’m extremely proud of these girls and all the hard work they’ve put in this season. They’ve made great progress in their skills, basketball IQ, and sportsmanship. Each practice, they came in with a positive attitude and a strong desire to improve. They’ve represented Pirate athletics well, with several being multi-sport athletes who’ve shown up to support their schoolmates at various events and games. Coaching them has been a true joy, and I hope their passion for the game only continues to grow in the years to come!”
Members of the team are Avery Matter, Freya Brekken, Lily Griffin, Annie Kollin, Zyha Normandin, Mireyah Magdaleno, Penny Smith, and Valor Klinnert. The team is coached by Erik Griffin.
