The Warroad Warriors used a strong second half performance to run past the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team 73-35 in a Section 8AA matchup in Crookston.
First Half
Warroad started the game on an 11-3 run. Jacob Hesby split that run with a three to continue his hot shooting streak from behind the arc. “He has been on fire since his big game the other night,” said Pirates Head Coach, Greg Garmen. “We gotta get Easton Tangquist and Jack (Garmen) to be in that same groove… if we only have one kid going then it’s a little tougher because we haven’t been getting much inside.”
After the slow start, Carter Bruggeman got it going for the Pirates as he went on a personal six to nothing run to get the Pirates within two points at 11-9. However, the Warriors turned up their defensive pressure with a full court press and used strong double teams at half court to turn Crookston over numerous times leading to a quick seven point run for the Warriors to get their lead back up to nine. A couple of traded baskets later and the Warriors led by 10 at the break, 29-19.
Second Half
The Pirates stuck with the Warriors for the first few minutes of the half staying within 10 points thanks to some solid defense and baskets from Tangquist. But, Warroad continued their trapping defense and aggressive offensive rebounding to steadily increase their lead over the final 14 minutes. “Everybody is bigger than us so we really have to focus on hitting a body. Our rebounding drills haven’t transferred into the games and they have to because it’s a huge part of the game,” said Coach Garmen on his team’s rebounding. “We have to get offensive boards ourselves as well… we got maybe one that I remember.” The Warriors often found themselves in transition for easy buckets, but also made six shots from behind the arc, all of them with plenty of time and space to take the shot. Six Warriors ended up with at least nine points in the game. Meanwhile, Hesby was the only Pirate to reach double-digits with 12 points.
Crookston’s regular season ends with a 2-16 record and will likely face Roseau in the Section 8AA play-in game on Monday.
Warroad improves to 14-2 and is looking to add to their seven game winning streak in their final regular season game on Friday at Thief River Falls.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Warroad | 29 | 44 | 73 |
| CROOKSTON | 19 | 16 | 35 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Jacob Hesby | 12 | 4 | 2 steals |
| Easton Tangquist | 9 | 3 | 2 assists |
| Carter Bruggeman | 8 | 4 | 2 assists/3 steals |
| Jack Garmen | 5 | 3 | 3 assists/2 steals |
| Karsten Isaacson | 1 | – | – |
| For Warroad | Points |
| Dylan Fox | 15 |
| Virgil Laznicka | 15 |
| Evan Grover | 13 |
| Cole Spenst | 9 |
| Kyle Thompson | 9 |
| Daniel Rose | 9 |
| Liam Grover | 3 |
