The Park Rapids Panthers used a late first-half run to build a double-digit lead, and that proved to be the difference as they coasted to an 83-61 victory in a Section 8AA game played at the Crookston High School gymnasium.
FIRST HALF –
Crookston’s Carter Fee made the first basket of the game before Park Rapids answered with a basket for a 2-2 tie. The Pirates regained the lead on a Reggie Winjum basket. After five straight Park Rapids points, Winjum made a three-pointer to tie the game at 7-7. Crookston’s Nolan Johnson added a basket for a 9-7 lead. Park Rapids responded with six straight points for a 15-9 lead. Crookston battled back with a basket from Nolan Johnson, Beau Smith, and Winjum to get within a 17-15 deficit. Park Rapids countered with a 12-2 run with five points from Cobe Diekmann, four points from Parker Hunter, and a three-pointer from Domynic Pope for a 29-17 lead with five minutes remaining. The teams played even for the rest of the half, and Park Rapids took a 33-22 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Park Rapids started the second half on a 9-2 run behind four points from Kaden Gartner, a three-pointer from Carter Hirt, and a basket from Hunter for a 42-24 lead two minutes into the half. Crookston countered with six straight points after a Fee three-pointer and a three-point play from Nolan Cassavant to get within a 42-30 deficit. Park Rapids answered with a 10-4 run to take a 52-34 lead before Crookston’s Winjum made a three-pointer with 10:55 left in the game. Park Rapids built a 70-46 lead before Crookston went on an 8-0 run with a basket from Josh Hesby and a pair of three-pointers from Fee to get within a 70-54 deficit with four minutes to go. Park Rapids stopped any idea of a Pirate comeback with an 11-0 run for an 81-54 lead, and they held on in the final minutes for an 83-61 victory.
One Pirate highlight was the final basket of the game as Gavin Reitmeier scored his first varsity career points. Crookston was 11 of 13 from the free throw line.
Crookston drops to 0-8 on the year and will host Bagley on Tuesday. Park Rapids improves to 2-6 on the year.
J.V. – Park Rapids won 80-44 C-Squad – Park Rapids won 57-33
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Park Rapids | 33 | 50 | 83 |
| Crookston | 22 | 39 | 61 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Misc. |
| Carter Fee | 15 | 7 | 1 assist |
| Nolan Johnson | 11 | 5 | |
| Reggie Winjum | 10 | 6 | 1 steal/1 assist |
| Josh Hesby | 8 | 3 | 1 block |
| Beau Smith | 8 | 6 | 1 block |
| Nolan Cassavant | 7 | 4 | 4 steals |
| Gavin Reitmeier | 2 |
| For Park Rapids | Points |
| Carter Hirt | 18 |
| Domynic Pope | 17 |
| Parker Hunter | 16 |
| Cobe Diekmann | 13 |
| Kaden Gartner | 8 |
| Sawyer Harvey | 3 |
| Zackary Brewer | 3 |
| Brady Hirt | 2 |
| Parker Larson | 2 |
| Owen Hase | 1 |
