The Kittson County Central Bearcats outscored the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team 33-14 in the first half on their way to a 67-50 victory in the regular season finale for both teams in a game played at the Kittson Central High School gymnasium in Hallock.
FIRST HALF –
Kittson County Central started the game on a 16-4 run in the first seven minutes of the game. The Bearcats used solid defense and efficient offense. Crookston’s Hunter Nicholas broke the run with a basket and KCC built a 22-8 lead. Crookston finally started to hit some shots as Reggie Winjum and Matthew Contreras made back-to-back three-pointers to get Crookston within a 22-14 deficit with 5:40 left in the half. KCC finished the half on an 11-0 run with six points from Kellen Johnson, a three-pointer from Brock Scelese, and two free throws by Brody Scalese for a 33-14 lead at halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston’s Tyler Michaelson made a three-pointer to start the second half. The teams exchanged baskets and Crookston trailed 38-19 when Jack Everett made a three-pointer. After a KCC basket, Michael Deng made a three-pointer. After another KCC basket, Crookston’s Mathew Contreras made another three-pointer and Winjum followed with a basket to get within a 44-30 deficit four minutes into the half. KCC scored the next five points before Crookston’s Carter Fee and Everett made back-to-back three-pointers to get within a 51-36 deficit. KCC scored seven straight points with Johnson scoring five and James Cerkowniak added a basket for a 58-36 lead with 7:17 remaining. Crookston’s Winjum made a three-pointer before KCC scored seven more points with five points from Eli Peterson and a basket by Kellen Johnson for a 65-39 lead. Crookston finished the last five minutes of the game on an 11-2 run. Michaelson scored four points, Contreras had three points and Rylan Lubarski and Winjum added baskets and KCC won the game 67-50.
Crookston ends the regular season with a 9-17 record and will play in the first round of the Section 8AA basketball tournament on Thursday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. at an opponent to be named Sunday morning. KCC improves to 19-7 on the year and will play in the first round of the Section 8A tournament on Thursday, March 6.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 14 | 36 | 50 |
| Kittson Co. Central | 33 | 34 | 67 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Steals/Assists |
| Reggie Winjum | 10 | 2 | 1 steal/1 assist |
| Tyler Michaelson | 9 | 2 | |
| Matthew Contreras | 9 | 3 | 1 assist |
| Hunter Nicholas | 8 | 5 | |
| Jack Everett | 6 | 4 | |
| Carter Fee | 3 | 4 | |
| Michael Deng | 3 | 2 | 3 steals |
| For KCC | Points |
| Kellen Johnson | 20 |
| Ty Vig | 15 |
| Brody Scalese | 14 |
| Brock Scalese | 10 |
| Eli Peterson | 7 |
| James Cerkowniak | 2 |
