The Warroad Warriors used several runs while forcing several turnovers as they coasted to an 88-53 victory over the Crookston Pirate boys Basketball team in a Section 8AA game at the Crookston High School gymnasium.
FIRST HALF –
Warroad started the game with a Kasen Pietruszewski three-pointer and Crookston’s Reggie Winjum countered with a layup and Warroad started the game with a 3-2 lead. It was a sign of things to come for the next eight minutes. The teams were tied at 8, 10, and 12 before Warroad’s Logan Gustafson came off the bench and gave his team a spark with a basket for a 14-12 lead. Crookston’s Deng made a free throw to bring the Pirates within a 14-13 deficit with 10:32 left in the half. It was at this point in the game that Warroad seemed to pick up the defensive pressure and that posed all kinds of turnover problems for Crookston. After a Pirate turnover, Warroad’s Liam Grover made a basket. After another Pirate turnover, Pietruszewski went in for a breakaway layup. Crookston answered with a WInjum layup only to have Warroad answer with five straight points with a free throw from Brady Fast and two baskets by Rose for a 23-15 lead. Less than two minutes later, Warroad led 25-18 when they went on an 11-0 run. Grover and Gustafson scored four points each and Pietruszewski added three points for a 36-18 lead with two minutes left in the half. Warroad led 38-20 when Crookston’s Matthew Contreras scored five straight points, but Warroad’s Pietruszewski hit a three at the buzzer to give the Warriors a 41-25 lead at halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston’s Nicholas scored the first basket of the half before Warroad went on an 11-0 run that started with a basket from and then the Warriors made three straight three-pointers by Rose and two by Grover for a 52-27 lead three minutes into the half. Crookston’s Lubarski ended the run with a thre-pointer before Warroad went on a 12-2 run with Brady Fast and Pietruszewski scoring four points apiece, Grover and Rose added a basket each for a 64-32 lead.. Crookston’s Winjum made a basket and Warroad’s Andrew Mayfield and Tedd Eastvold for a 74-39 lead with 8:35 left in the game and running time started. The final minutes flew by and Warroad coasted to an 88-53 victory.
Crookston drops to 4-13 on the year and will travel to Fosston on Friday. Warroad improves to 18-1 on the year.
J.V. – Warroad won 76-43
1st | 2nd | Final | |
Warroad | 41 | 47 | 88 |
Crookston | 25 | 28 | 53 |
For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Steal/Assists |
Reggie Winjum | 11 | 4 | 2 steals/2 assists |
Matt Contreras | 11 | 2 | |
Hunter Nicholas | 8 | 6 | 2 steals |
Michael Deng | 7 | 2 steals | |
Jack Everett | 5 | 5 | |
Ryan Lubarski | 4 | 6 | 1 steal |
Tyler Michaelson | 4 | 2 steals | |
Carter Fee | 3 | 1 |
For Warroad | Points |
Kasen Pietruszewski | 26 |
Liam Grover | 24 |
Zachary Rose | 11 |
Logan Gustafson | 10 |
Tedd Eastvold | 4 |
Brady Fast | 4 |
Andrew Mayfield | 4 |
Luke Billingsly | 3 |





