PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL USE A SOLID TEAM EFFORT TO EARN TO A WIN AT FOSSTON

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team started the game with a 19-9 run and continued to build on the lead the rest of the game on their way to a 59-38 victory over the Fosston Greyhounds in a game played in Fosston.

FIRST HALF-
Crookston led 4-3 and went on an 8-0 run to take a 12-3 lead early.  The Pirates continued to build on their lead for and took a 19-9 lead while taking advantage of 10 Fosston turnovers.  “It was a good start for us,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. ” Fosston scored a basket before Crookston started went on a 7-0 run with an old-fashion three-point play, a Carter Bruggeman basket on a backdoor cut and a nice pass from Osborn and a Walker Winjum basket for a 26-11 lead a little over halfway through the half. Crookston’s offense struggled in the final seven minutes of the half, but Easton Tangquist made a three-pointer to give Crookston a 31-14 lead, their biggest lead of the half (17 points) with 1:45 left in the half. Fosston scored the final four points of the half and Crookston took a 31-18 lead into halftime. “It didn’t feel like we had a big lead because we struggled taking care of the ball, I thought,” said Coach Greg Garmen. “We had a good team effort and Brady Butt had a nice game off the bench and we shot the ball pretty well when we didn’t turn the ball over.”

SECOND HALF –
Both teams offenses struggled at the start of the second half, but Crookston was able to heat up as the half progressed. Crookston started the second half on an 8-2 run with a basket from Caden Osborn and after a Fosston basket, Walker Winjum had back-to-back three-pointers for a 39-20 lead with about 11 minutes left in the game. Fosston answered with a basket before Crookston’s Garmen rattled home a three-pointer for a 42-22 lead. Fosston added another basket with 8:28 remaining and Crookston answered with a Tangquist steal for a layup and a Brady Butt three-pointer for a 47-24 lead.  “Brady had a nice game for us,” said Coach Garmen. “He had a bunch of rebounds and gave us some good minutes.” Fosston settled down and responded with a 7-0 run to get within a 47-31 deficit with four minutes left in the game.
Crookston finished the game strong behind a 10-2 run with all 10 points coming from Carter Bruggeman, who was celebrating his birthday, and the Pirates led 59-36.  Fosston scored a basket late and Crookston won the game 59-38. “We didn’t take very good of the ball,” said Coach Garmen, talking about his teams 25 turnovers. “We found a way to win and made some shots and played decent defense.”

Crookston improves to 2-4 on the year and will play Warren-Alvarado-Oslo at the University of Minnesota Crookston’s Lysaker Gymnasium on Friday.  Fosston drops to 1-4 on the year.