RED HOT BGMR GATORS BEAT UP ON CROOKSTON PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL 87-35

The red hot Badger-Greenbush-Middle River Gators started the game on a 17-4 run and never looked back as they cruised to an 87-35 victory over the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team in a game played at the Crookston High School gymnasium.  The 87 points scored by BGMR were a season-high and the 35 points scored by Crookston were a season-low.

FIRST HALF- 
BGMR’s speed and outstanding hustle was a big advantage early as they used their quickness to drive by Crookston defenders combined with surgical like precision on their passing to take a 9-0 lead a few minutes into the game. “That set the tone.  We turned the ball over right away and it was an up hill battle the rest of the way,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “We told the guys it is a Monday night game and they had to be ready to compete.  BGMR shot the ball well and they defend well and they are athletes, they are ballers and they go.”  The Gators continued their domination and led 29-6 with 10 minutes left in the half. Trailing 37-10, Crookston had their only run of the half when Easton Tangquist made two free throws and the Pirates got the ball back and Tangquist made a three-pointer for a 5-0 run to get his team within a 37-15 deficit with 5:29 left in the half. BGMR continued their domination the rest of the half and took a 50-17 lead into halftime.  “Our message at halftime was we needed to shore it up being down by 33,” said Coach Garmen. “We needed to chip away and get some stops.”

SECOND HALF – 
Crookston came out stronger in the second half with a basket and two free throws by Osborn, but BGMR answered with 10-2 run to open up a 61-24 lead three minutes into the half. “We didn’t have a The Gators continued their domination and Crookston’s Carter Bruggeman injured his ankle and had to miss the rest of the game and a few minutes later Caden Osborn stole the ball and went in for a layup and scored, but when he landed he hit the floor with a knee injury (the extent of the injury is unknown and he will be evaluated later) with Crookston trailing 65-33.  “We aren’t sure right now (with the injuries) and we will have to wait and see what happens,” said Coach Garmen. “They don’t help and we will keep our fingers crossed, but it could change our complexion of the team if we get bad news.”  The final nine minutes of the game were running time and BGMR cruised to an 87-35 victory. “It wasn’t a good start and it was a worse finish, especially with the injuries,” said Coach Garmen. “The kids need to come out ready to go and make sure we are conscious about having a good start.  BGMR is a good team, they defend well and they shot well tonight.”

Crookston drops to 8-12 on the year and will travel to East Grand Forks on Friday for a 6:00 p.m. game.  BGMR improves to 17-5 on the year as they continue to move up in the Section 8A west subsection standings.
J.V. – BGMR won 61-45      C Squad – Crookston won 39-30