CROOKSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL BEATS WATERTOWN-MAYER FOR HOLIDAY CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP

The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team led by three points at halftime and stepped up the defense while scoring 40 points in the second half as they pulled away for a 67-50 victory over the Watertown-Mayer Royals in the Fergus Falls Holiday Classic championship game at Fergus Falls High School.  “We played some really good basketball the last two days,” said Pirate Coach Darin Zimmerman. “I was really happy with our defense and we did a lot of things well.”

FIRST HALF –
The first half was a back-and-forth battle with Crookston scoring the first points with an Ally Perreault basket, which was countered by a Watertown-Mayer five-point run.  Crookston’s Emma Osborn got her team back on track offensively with back-to-back baskets followed by two Halle Winjum free throws to cap a 6-0 run for an 8-5 lead less than four minutes into the game.  “Emma keeps getting better each game and she has added to her game this year,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We know she is a great shooter and a smart player,  but she has really stepped up her defense this year.” Crookston built an 11-7 lead when Watertown-Mayer made back-to-back three-pointers for a 13-11 lead.  Crookston responded with a Hayden Winjum basket to tie the game at 13.  The teams were tied at 15 and again at 20 when Crookston went on a 5-0 run behind two points apiece from Libby Salentine and Hayden Winjum, and a free throw from Halle Winjum and the Pirates had a 25-20 lead with 90 seconds left in the half. “That was a big run for us,” said Coach Zimmerman. “That gave us a needed boost before halftime.” The teams exchanged baskets in the final minute with the Royals scoring with 10 seconds left in the half, and Crookston took a 27-24 lead into halftime.  “It was a solid first half and I thought we played well on both sides of the floor,” said Coach Zimmerman. 

SECOND HALF –
Crookston started the second half with a little more energy on the defensive end and turned defense into offense and scored the first four points of the half with baskets from Abby Borowicz and Osborn for a 31-24 lead.  After a Royal basket, Crookston’s Perreault and Osborn answered with a basket each for a 35-26 lead two minutes into the half. “We came out with more energy on the defensive end and that is what got us going,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We got after it on the defensive end and that got our offense going.” Crookston led 36-31 when Borowicz converted a three-point play followed by an Emma Gunderson basket for a 41-31 lead five minutes into the half.  Watertown-Mayer answered with a 9-3 run with all 12 points coming on three-pointers and the Pirate lead was cut down to 44-40.  With 10 minutes left in the game, Halle Winjum was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and made all three free throws, followed by an Osborn three-pointer, a Perreault basket, and two more Halle Winjum free throws for a 54-40 lead with seven minutes remaining. “It seems like the girls pick up their game when we need them, especially against these good teams we played here,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Halle was very good from the free throw line and that was great to see.” Osborn made two three-pointers and Halle Winjum made four more free throws to keep the Pirate lead in double-figures and the Pirates held on for a 67-50 victory to win the Fergus Falls Holiday Classic Championship.  “We played very well over the last two days and maybe played some of our best basketball of the year,” said Coach Zimmerman.  “We still have some things to work on, but I like how we played against two very good teams this week.”

Crookston had Halle Winjum, Hayden Winjum, and Emma Osborn named to the all-tournament team.  Watertown-Mayer had Lyndsey Penegor and Mercedes Burmeister named to the team.  

Crookston improves to 6-2 on the season with wins over the #4 team (Fergus Falls) and the #28 team (Watertown-Mayer) in the Class AA QRF rankings to win the tournament.  Crookston will travel to Roseau on Tuesday, January 3 to take on the 8-1 Roseau Rams in a Section 8AA matchup.
Watertown-Mayer drops to 5-3 on the year. 

J.V. – Watertown-Mayer won 34-27