CROOKSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL USES SOLID DEFENSE TO BEAT WARROAD

FIRST HALF-
The teams battled back and forth for the first four minutes, and Crookston led 9-6. The Pirates went on a mini-run with baskets from Chloe Boll and Naomi Johnson before Chloe made a three-pointer for a 16-6 lead. Warroad stopped the run with two Faith Lilly free throws before Crookston responded with four points from Grace Boll and a three-pointer from Isabelle Smith for a 23-8 lead with 11 minutes left in the half. Warroad played much better on both ends of the floor in the final 11 minutes of the half and trailed 30-18 with two minutes left. The Warriors’ Attlee Larson buried a three, and after two Crookston free throws, Rilynn Anderson made a three-pointer, and Lilly scored to bring Warroad within a 33-26 deficit. Crookston ended the half with two Chlor Boll free throws to take a 35-26 lead into halftime. 

SECOND HALF –
Crookston picked up the defensive pressure in the second half and decided to put Chloe Boll on Warroad’s Faith Lilly. That plan worked to perfection as Boll made it hard for Lilly (who averages over 20 points per game) to find any room to get a shot off. Crookston outscored Warroad 13-4 in the first five minutes of the half for a 48-30 lead. Chloe Boll scored nine points, while Johnson and Smith had two points each in the run.
Crookston continued to build on the lead and took a 63-34 lead with less than five minutes remaining. The Pirate went to the bench and played everybody that dressed and held on for a 68-44 victory. 

Crookston improves to 2-2 on the year and will host East Grand Forks on Tuesday. Warroad drops to 1-5 on the year.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR COACH DARIN ZIMMERMAN’S COMMENTS