HAWLEY HITS SHOT AT THE BUZZER TO BEAT PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL

The Hawley Nuggets banked a three-point shot as time expired to beat the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team 61-60 in a Section 8AA matchup in Hawley.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston had a great start to the game with two beautiful moves in the post by Caden Osborn for a 4-0 lead. “It was a good start,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “Caden came out strong with some good moves.”  Hawley answered with four straight points to tie the game at 4-4. The teams were tied again at 6-6 before the Nuggets took their first lead of the game back-to-back Mason Gratton baskets. Crookston responded in a big way with 11-2 run behind eight points from Walker Winjum and a three-pointer by Jack Garmen for a 17-10 lead with 11:32 remaining in the half.  “We had a nice stretch and made some nice plays,” said Coach Garmen.  Hawley battled back as Crookston’s shooting cooled down and they went on an 8-1 run to tie the game at 18. The teams were tied at 20 and 24 before the Nuggets took a 26-24 lead on a Justin Koski basket with 1:15 left. Neither team scored the rest of the way and Hawley took a 26-24 lead into halftime.  “Basketball is a game of runs and we have some strengths that Crookston has some problems with,” said Hawley Coach Nathan Stoa. “Caden (Osbonr) is a problem and we can’t feel bad because he is a problem for a lot of people putting up those double-doubles.  His footwork, and with his size he is a very good player.”

SECOND HALF –
Crookston tied the game with a Winjum basket right away, but Hawley responded with a 14-2 run to take a 40-28 lead four minutes into the half. Crookston slowly chipped away at the deficit and after an Easton Tangquist three-pointer, a Winjum basket, followed by another Garmen three to get within a 44-43 deficit halfway through the game. All the work to get back within one took a little energy out of the Pirates and Hawley built an eight-point lead (52-44). Crookston brought Caden Osborn back in the game after sitting him with four fouls and that gave the Pirates a spark. Caden made two free throws and after Garmen took a charge, Osborn made two free throws to bring his team within four points (52-48). Osborn kept the run going with one more free throw and on his second attempt he missed the shot but Carter Bruggeman grabbed the rebound and put it back in with a reverse layup to get within one point (52-51) with under four minutes remaining. Hawley led 56-53 when Winjum made a free throw and Garmen was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and made two of three to tie the game at 56 with 90 seconds left. Hawley scored 15 seconds later to regain the lead. The Nuggets had a chance to extend the lead a few seconds later but missed a free throw and Crookston had the ball and Tangquist was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game. Hawley came up empty on their possession and Crookston had the ball with over 30 seconds left and elected to hold for the last shot. With about eight seconds left, Tangquist drove baseline and made a shot for a 60-58 lead with five seconds left. After a Hawley time out, Crookston called a time out to set up the defensive plan. Hawley inbounded the ball and brought it up along the sideline and called a time out with 1.9 seconds left in the game. “We made some big plays down the stretch,” said Coach Garmen. “I struggle to foul somebody.  A lot of teams foul and give them two free throws and we don’t practice that so we elected not to foul.” After the teams came out of the time out, Crookston called a time out to set up the defense again. Hawley inbounded the ball on the far side of the floor and used a cross-court pass to Brady Gratton in front of the Hawley bench. Brady quickly passed the ball to Mason Gratton who heaved a three-pointer from the left-wing. The shot hit the backboard, rolled around the rim, hit the backboard again and went in and the Nuggets won the game 61-60 at the buzzer. “We practice that one and we steal that from Brad Stevens and that is a Boston Celtics staple and we’ve run it four times and it is the first time we have hit the bucket off it,” said Hawley Coach Nathan Stoa. “Justin’s throw was right on the money and Brady to catch it right away and have the presence of mind to get it to Mason right where he was supposed to be and they executed it very well and it was a fun way to finish.”
Crookston Coach Greg Garmen said Hawley made a great shot. “They made a great shot to win it, give them credit,” said Garmen. “It did a lot before it went through.  But that is why you play the game, for the excitement of it and unfortunately it didn’t go our way this time.”

Crookston drops to 7-11 on the year and will host Thief River Falls on Thursday in another big Section 8AA matchup. Hawley improves to 4-11.

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