CROOKSTON COMES UP SHORT AT HAWLEY IN A GAME OF RUNS

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team trailed 15-0 to start the game but scored the next 23 points before Hawley ended the half on a 13-1 run in a wild first half, but the Hawley Nuggets held on to win the game 57-45 in a Section 8AA game in Hawley.

FIRST HALF-
It was a wild first half and literally a half of runs. Hawley started the game by scoring the first 15 points, led by Brevin Stoa’s 13 points, and the Nuggets led 15-0. Crookston responded with one of the biggest runs in recent memory by a Pirate team as Reggie Winjum made a free throw with 9:52 left in the half to get his team on the board. Once Winjum got the lid off the basket, all the Pirates did was score and play solid defense as they went on a 23-0 run, with all five starters scoring in the run to take a 23-15 lead with 2:20 remaining in the half.
The runs continued as Hawley ended the half on a 13-1 run, including Stoa scoring the final eight points of the half for a 28-24 lead going into halftime.
Brevin Stoa scored 24 of Hawley’s 28 first-half points.

SECOND HALF-
Hawley started the second half strong as they outscored Crookston 22-7 to take a 50-31 lead with 7:53 left in the game. Hawley had six different players scored in the run. Crookston stopped the run with a Nicholas basket, and that was followed by a Winjum basket and two Tyler Michaelson free throws to get within a 50-37 deficit with five minutes to go. Hawley made a basket before Crookston made four straight free throws, with Nicholas and Winjum bringing the Pirates within a 52-41 deficit with less than three minutes remaining. Hawley started to work the ball around and ran the shot clock down on their next several possessions and held on for a 57-45 victory.

Crookston drops to 2-8 on the year and will host Climax-Fisher on Friday night at 7:30. You can listen to the game on KROX RADIO or watch the game on KROX TV. Hawley improves to 6-5 on the year.

CLICK HERE to listen to Coach Greg Garmen’s comments.