CROOKSTON BOYS BASKETBALL COMES UP SHORT IN LOSS TO WARROAD

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team got behind and tried battling back several times, but the Warroad Warriors held on for an 83-78 victory in a Section 8AA matchup in Crookston.

FIRST HALF-
The teams battled back and forth at the start of the game with ties at 2, 4, 8, and 13. Crookston led 18-15 when Warroad picked up the defense and offense.  Kason Pietruszewski scored seven straight points to spark a 15-3 run with four other Warriors adding a basket apiece for a 30-21 lead. Crookston’s Tyler Michaelson stopped the run with a three-pointer before Warroad responded with five more points. Michaelson answered with another three-pointer. Warroad led 35-27 when Warroad’s Pietruszewski scored five more points for a 41-27 lead with 6:54 left in the half. Warroad had their biggest lead of the game at 48-30.
Crookston settled down on both ends of the floor and responded with an 11-0 run with Hunter Nicholas making two free throws, Michaelson converting a four-point play, Isaac Thomforde made a three-pointer, and Michaelson added two more points to bring the Pirates within a 48-41 deficit. Warroad outscored Crookston the rest of the half and took a 52-43 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
The teams exchanged baskets in the first minute before Warroad’s Pietruszewski scored six points for a 61-47 lead. Crookston responded with a 9-2 run with seven points from Reggie Winjum and a basket from Boike to get within a 63-56 deficit with 8:32 left in the game. Warroad settled in on the offensive end and went on a 12-4 run behind 10 points from Liam Grover and a basket from Logan Kvarnlov for a 75-60 lead. Warroad led 82-67 with two minutes left in the game, and the Pirates tried to make a last-second run with two Nicholas free throws and three-pointers from Isaac Thomforde, Michaelson, and Hunter Nicholas to get within an 82-78 deficit with a few seconds remaining. Crookston fouled Grover, and he made one of two free throws with one second left, and Warroad held on for an 83-78 victory.

Crookston drops to 0-4 on the year and will play Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal on Thursday. Warroad improves to 1-2 on the year.

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