RED LAKE COUNTY OVERCOMES A SLOW START TO BEAT CROOKSTON BOYS BASKETBALL

The Red Lake County Rebels trailed 13-0 to start the game, but used a 12-0 run at the end of the first half to take the lead and never looked back in an 81-64 victory over the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team in a game played in Oklee.  “We came out a little flat,” said Red Lake County Coach Steve Philion. “We started playing better the rest of the way with more energy.”

FIRST HALF –
Crookston had a great start with red-hot shooting to take a 13-0 lead to start the game. Crookston had a three-pointer each from Jack Garmen, Caden Osborn, and Easton Tangquist, while Carter Bruggeman added four points in the run. Red Lake County stopped the run with a Hayden Cardinal three-point play which was followed by a Derek Peterson three-pointer and five minutes into the game, the Pirates led 13-6. Crookston answered with seven straight points with a Garmen three-pointer, a Walker Winjum basket and two Osborn free throws for a 20-6 lead with 9:51 remaining in the first half. “We probably played our best basketball in that run,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “We were shooting well, defending well and had a great start.”  It was this point in the game Crookston started to cool down and Red Lake County started to heat up and play “Rebel” basketball. They ended the final 9:51 of the first half outscoring Crookston 30-12 (including a 12-0 in the final three minutes) to take a 36-32 lead into halftime. The Rebels were led by Peterson’s nine points in the run and used a combination of great passing, shooting, and defense. “We got them to panic a bit and that was a big spark for us and we kind of wish halftime wouldn’t have come,” said Rebel Coach Philion. “We finished playing some good basketball and the guys got after it and that was nice to see.”

SECOND HALF –
The teams exchanged baskets for the first five minutes of the second half and Red Lake County led 44-42 six minutes into the half. It seemed every time Crookston cut the deficit to a possession Red Lake County would answer with big plays. “We came out strong to start the second half, I thought,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “They started playing better defense and that caused some problems for us.”  After a Carter Bruggeman basket to get the Pirates within the two-point deficit with an Isaiah Olson three-point play, a Trent Goulet three-pointer and an Eric Gieseke three-pointer to cap a 9-0 run for a 53-42 lead with 11:22 left in the game.  “Derek Peterson and Eric took over and had some nice assists and we made some shots,” said Rebel Coach Philion. “We worked the ball around and we picked up our defensive pressure and that was good to see and sign of a good team.” That was the run that sparked the Rebels and they slowly pulled away the rest of the way by driving to the basket, nice passing and solid defense to cruise to an 81-64 victory.  “Crookston played pretty well so it was a nice win for us,” said Rebel Coach Philion.   Crookston Coach Greg Garmen said they saw some good things. “We saw some signs and played well at times,” said Garmen. “It has been our story all season long, we can’t play the full game.  We are getting there and hopefully, we will keep building.”

Crookston drops to 5-8 on the year and the game with Wadena-Deer Creek scheduled for Friday will be postponed to February 1. Red Lake County improves to 10-3 on the year and will travel to Goodridge-Grygla on Monday.
J.V. – Red Lake County won 52-44 C-Squad – Red Lake County won 40-22