The Warroad Warriors Boy’s Basketball team used an inside, and outside game in the first half with Dylan Fox down low and Evan Grover, a guard up high, and the tandem was too much for the Crookston Pirates as Warroad made it a sweep during the regular season over Crookston with an 84-42 win in Warroad.
Warroad jumped out to a 7-0 lead, and it was 25-7 with eight minutes to go in the first half. Fox, a 6’4, 240-pound post player, was dominant inside. The senior, who averaged a double-double last year for the Warriors, was active early and the whole first half clearing the boards, and when he received the ball down low, Crookston had no answer for him, and it was almost automatic layup. Fox ended with 20 points and 10 rebounds tonight. “It was a very poor start for us, too many turnovers, did not shoot well and Fox hurt us inside and Grover and Spenst from the outside,” said Crookston head coach Greg Garmen. When Kyle Kvarnlov hit a basket with four minutes to go in the half, Warroad led 35-12. Crookston’s Jack Garmen hit a couple of three’s in the half, but he’d hit one, and then the Warriors would score nine points in a row. Gamen’s next three and Warroad again ran off eight straight points, and at 35-12 with four minutes left, the Pirates used a time out and the rest of the half, Warroad only outscored Crookston 11-7, but it was a 46-21 margin for Warroad with Fox scoring 14 and the sharpshooter, Evan Grover had 12 with a couple three’s. The defense of Warroad was mostly stifling in the half and forced several steals and easy baskets as well. “I would say our turnovers that led to easy hoops really hurts us, along with our lack of rebounding and giving up too many second chances,” said coach Garmen.
It was like groundhog day in Warroad as the second half started exactly like the first half did, with the Warriors scoring the first 12 points to make it 58-21 the first four minutes of the second half, and the run was finally over when Crookston’s Jacob Hesby twinkled the netting on a long three, but Crookston trailed 58-24. Crookston built up a 75-28 lead with under eight minutes to go in the game, and it was running time for the rest of the way. That didn’t bother Evan Grover with three bombs, Fox was not quite as active in the second half but was a force when he was in the game. Garmen was still working hard and had a few baskets, a three, and some free throws, Jacob Hesby made some baskets, including a three and 6’4 freshman, Hunter Nicholas made good use of his minutes with six points inside and grabbed a few rebounds as well. “Jack and Jacob were able to score a bit, but not enough,” said Greg Garmen. It just wasn’t going to be anybody’s night except Warroad on their home court to beat Crookston 84-42 for the second Section 8AA win over the Pirates this year. Warroad beat Crookston on December 10th, the third game of the season 84-29, so the Warriors scored the same amounts of points, but the Pirates did manage to score 13 more!! Crookston is 3-14 on the season, while Warroad has won their seventh game in a row and are 16-3 on the year. “I felt we came out aggressive from start to finish. We have had a whole week to prepare and sometimes that could hurt you mainly because of the anticipation and the fact that it was our senior night is always an added pressure. Our seniors led like that have been all season and didn’t let that lead up to the game affect us. Crookston is always tough and they have shown throughout the season their improvements and we saw that tonight in our game. Their other guys are starting to be more aggressive and that is what we talked about prior to our game and to not let one play affect us as there’s more plays to be made,” said Warroad head coach Vichita Ounchith.
Crookston will be at home next week, starting with Park Rapids in a Section game on Tuesday, and the Panthers are playing well. Then #10 ranked Sacred Heart in Class A comes in for a Friday night contest. “When you are struggling nothing comes easy, but the kids are trying to get better each and every day and keep working on their games,” said Greg Garmen.
Warroad will be at Lake of the Woods on Tuesday and home with Badger-Greenbush-Middle River on Thursday.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| CROOKSTON | 21 | 21 | 42 |
| Warroad | 46 | 38 | 84 |
| For CROOKSTON | Points |
| Jack Garmen | 12 |
| Jacob Hesby | 11 |
| Haden Michaelson | 6 |
| Hunter Nicholas | 6 |
| Isaac Thomforde | 3 |
| Ryan Abeld | 2 |
| Tanner Giese | 2 |
| For Warroad | Points |
| Dylan Fox | 20 |
| Evan Grover | 20 |
| Cole Spenst | 14 |
| Liam Grover | 9 |
| John Davis | 6 |
| Kyle Kvarnlov | 6 |
| Gage Thompson | 4 |
| Ayden Gustafson | 2 |
| Kason Pietruszewski | 2 |
| Teddy Eastvold | 1 |
