The Crookston Pirate Boys’ Basketball team found out why the Red Lake County Rebels are ranked #9 in the state in Class A as the Rebels cruised to an 81-44 victory in a game played at Robert Matzke Gymnasium in Red Lake Falls.
FIRST HALF –
At the start of the game, both teams played terrific defense, and almost six minutes into the game, Red Lake County had a 10-1 lead. Crookston’s Hunter Nicholas scored the first point of the game with a free throw almost three minutes into the game. Red Lake County responded with an Owen Chervestad three-point play, and Ethan Johnson added four points. After a Crookston timeout, Chervestad added another three-point play for a 10-1 lead. Crookston’s Nicholas stopped the run with a three-point play of his own, only to have the Rebel’s Luke Peterson answer with a three-point play to spark a 12-0 run. Chervestad added a basket, and after a Crookston turnover, Conner Duden made a layup; Chervestad added a basket, and Duden finished off the run with a three-pointer for a 22-4 lead halfway through the half. Red Lake County led 25-13 when they went on another 12-0 run that started with a Duden three-pointer. Will Gieseke added a basket, Duden made another three-pointer, Gavin Thomas made a basket, and Peterson added a basket for a 37-13 lead with 3:15 left in the half. Red Lake County led 39-16 when Duden and Ethan Johnson made back-to-back three-pointers for a 45-16 lead with one minute to go in the half. The last points of the half was a Matthew Contreras three-pointer to bring Crookston within a 45-19 deficit at halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston started the second half with the ball and turned it over on the inbound pass, and Red Lake Couny’s Duden and Chervestad scored baskets for a 49-19 lead. Red Lake County led 64-33 when Chervestad and Gunner Halverson added baskets for a 68-33 lead with 8:39 left in the game to fire up running time. Red Lake County played everybody that dressed, and the highlight was the backdoor cuts by Logan Vettleson for a pair of baskets, and Red Lake County coasted to an 81-44 victory. Chervestad and Duden combined for 51 points in the game.
Crookston drops to 2-7 on the year and will travel to Menagha on Saturday. Red Lake County improves to 9-1 on the year and will play Thief River Falls on Monday.
J.V. – RLC won 65-22 C-Squad – RLC won 64-25
1st | 2nd | Final | |
Crookston | 19 | 25 | 44 |
Red Lake County | 45 | 36 | 81 |
For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Steal/Assists |
Hunter Nicholas | 18 | 11 | |
Reggie Winjum | 6 | 2 | 4 assists |
Matthew Contreras | 6 | 4 | 2 steals |
Rylan Lubarski | 5 | 2 | 1 steal |
Tyler Michaelson | 5 | 2 | 2 assists/1 steal |
Michael Deng | 4 | 3 | 2 assists/1 steal |
For Red Lake County | Points |
Owen Chervestad | 27 |
Conner Duden | 24 |
Ethan Johnson | 9 |
Luke Peterson | 5 |
Logan Vettelson | 4 |
Will Gieseke | 2 |
Ben Gullingsrud | 2 |
Ethan Majerus | 2 |
Gavin Thomas | 2 |
Atley Vettleson | 2 |








