CROOKSTON BOY’S BASKETBALL USES A STRONG 2ND HALF TO BEAT CLIMAX-FISHER

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team took advantage of the Climax-Fisher Knights’s foul trouble and used two big runs to come away with a 74-42 victory in a game played in Crookston.

FIRST HALF –
The first half was a half of runs.  Climax-Fisher scored the first basket of the game when Ethan Evitts scored 30-seconds into the game.  Crookston responded with a Jacob Hesby free throw and two Isaac Thomforde free throws and Crookston led 3-2.  Climax-Fisher’s Paul Dimas answered with a basket for a 4-3 lead.  The lead didn’t last long as Crookston’s Haden Michaelson made a three-pointer, 27-seconds later Jack Garmen made a three-pointer.  On the next Pirate offensive possession, Tanner Giese dove for a rebound and somehow got a pass to Garmen in the corner and he made another three to give Crookston a 12-4 lead less than four minutes into the game. “That was a spark for us,” said Crookston Coach Greg Garmen. “Tanner is one that likes the floor and he is physical and aggressive and that is what we want, kids on the floor making things happen.”  Climax-Fisher had an answer as they went on a 12-2 run with four different players scoring and the run was capped by an Evitts three-pointer for a 16-14 lead with 8:02 left in the half.  “The boys were so pumped and played hard tonight,” said Climax-Fisher Coach Brenda Slyt. “It was a good ball game up to that point, but then we went cold and struggled on the offensive end.”
Crookston responded with a big run of their own as they ended the half on a 21-7 run, including an 11-0 run over a three-minute span, and took a 35-23 lead into halftime. “We saw some good things from people and it was one of the few games we had a lead at halftime and they had some foul trouble and that was good for our kids,” said Coach Garmen. “We’re not used to having runs like we did and the boys made some things happen.”

SECOND HALF – 
The teams scored three points apiece before the Knights’ Paul Dimas picked up his fourth foul of the game with 15:40 remaining.  “That hurt us,” said Coach Slyt. “He has been playing so well for us and to take him out of the game really hurt.”
Eight seconds later Crookston’s Hesby buried a three-pointer.  The teams exchanged points for a while with eight minutes left in the game, Crookston led 54-39 and went on a 12-0 run to take a 66-39 lead.  Four players scored in the run with Ryan Abeld, who sat most of the first half because of foul trouble, had five points, Jack Garmen chipped in four, Hesby had a basket, and Reggie Winjum made a free throw. “Crookston played well and with us missing a lot of bunnies, and having foul trouble really hurt us tonight.”  Climax-Fisher only scored three points the rest of the way and Crookston cruised to a 74-42 victory. “The kids were fired up and we had a nice crowd with Pirate Brother night brought a lot of energy,” said Coach Garmen. “Their foul trouble certainly helped us and worked in our favor.  We had a good team rebounding game and that was good to see.  It was a good all-around game for the boys.”

Crookston improves to 3-12 on the year.   Climax-Fisher drops to 2-12 on the year and will play Fosston on Monday.