The Crookston Pirate Boys’ Basketball team had a great all-around team effort and a career high 23 points from Matthew Contreras to beat the Menahga Braves 77-41 in a Section 8AA matchup at the Menahga High School Gymnasium.
FIRST HALF –
Crookston played solid defense to start the game and jumped out to a 6-0 run with a three-pointer from Reggie Winjum, a Tyler Michaelson free throw, and a Hunter Nicholas basket. Menahga stopped the run with a three-pointer before Nicholas had an offense rebound and a basket, followed by a three-point play for an 11-3 lead. Menahga answered with a basket before Matthew Contreras, and Winjum added baskets. Menahga got a basket before Crookston’s Winjum made a free throw, Michael Deng made a basket, and Michaelson added a three-pointer for a 21-7 lead halfway through the first half. Crookston’s Nicholas and Deng ran into foul trouble and they had to sit the rest of the half and the teams played even in the final nine minutes of the half and Crookston took a 33-19 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston had a great start to the second half as Nicholas scored the first four points, Jack Everett made a three-pointer and Winjum made a free throw to cap an 8-0 run for a 41-19 lead. Crookston led 43-25 five minutes into the half when they took over the game with a 14-0 run. The run started with a Nicholas three-point play, followed by a beautiful bounce pass on a fast break from Zachariah Ali to Contreras for a layup. Contreras followed with a three-pointer, and Crookston had a 57-25 lead with 10:40 remaining. Crookston led 60-28 when Menahga went on a 9-0 run to get within a 60-37 deficit before Contreras scored five straight points. After a Brave basket, Crookston’s Michaelson scored four points, and Contreras added another three-pointer for a 72-39 lead. Menahga made a basket before Contreras had a steal and a layup, and before he was taken out, he made one more three-pointer for a career-high 23 points. The senior guard’s previous career high was 11 points!! Contreras checked out of the game and got a nice ovation from the Pirate fans and teammates, and Gunner Groven checked in. Groven got a pass in the corner and fired up a three-pointer, and hit nothing but net for his first varsity points, and Crookston won the game 80-43.
Crookston improves to 3-7 on the year and will host Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton on Monday. Menahga drops to 1-13 on the year.
J.V. – Crookston won 44-30
1st | 2nd | Final | |
Crookston | 33 | 47 | 80 |
Menahga | 19 | 24 | 43 |
For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Steal/Assists |
Matthew Contreras | 23 | 4 | 3 steals/2 assists |
Hunter Nicholas | 15 | 7 | |
Reggie Winjum | 12 | 5 | 2 steals/2 assists |
Tyler Michaelson | 12 | 3 | 1 steal/1 assist |
Jack Everett | 8 | 10 | 3 steals/2 assists |
Michael Deng | 4 | 2 | 1 assist |
Zachariah Ali | 3 | 2 | 1 assist/1 steal |
Gunner Groven | 3 |
For Menahga | Points |
Chance Berttunen | 16 |
Jonas Lusti | 13 |
Garret Tolkkinen | 5 |
Matthew Treinen | 3 |
Bret Pietila | 2 |




