CROOKSTON GIRL’S BASKETBALL BEATS #9 RANKED FERGUS FALLS IN FINAL SECONDS

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team ended the final five minutes of the game on a 19-5 run and had a Halle Winjum basket with 13.8 seconds remaining to beat the #9 ranked Fergus Falls Otters in the first round of the Fergus Falls Holiday Classic. 

FIRST HALF –
The teams came out and played outstanding defense.  Fergus Falls took an early lead with a free throw and Crookston’s Emma Osborn answered with a three-pointer 20-seconds later for a 3-1 lead.  Fergus Falls tied the game at 3 before Halle Winjum drove the lane for a layup and a 5-3 lead three minutes into the game.  Libby Salentine checked into the game for the Pirates and she made her first shot for a 7-3 lead. “It was a good fundamental start for us,” said Pirate Coach Darin Zimmerman. “Both teams were playing solid defense, but we came up with a few more plays.”  Fergus Falls’ Hannah Polejewski received a beautiful pass from Ellie Colbeck for a basket to get within two points.  Crookston responded with a nice Hayden Winjum runner through the lane for a basket and a 9-5 lead.  Almost three minutes later, Fergus Falls’ Colbeck made a basket before Halle Winjum answered with a basket.  Colbeck responded with a free throw and Polejewski added a basket to get within an 11-10 deficit with 3:45 left in the half.  Halle Winjum had a big three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining and Fergus Falls added a basket with 31-seconds remaining and the Pirates took a 14-12 lead into halftime. “Halle found a way to make a play at the end of the half and her teammates did a good job of setting her up,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Defensively, we really couldn’t have played much better and that was great to see.”

SECOND HALF –
Crookston’s Emma Osborn had the hot hand to start the second half as she made two three-point baskets and the Pirates led 20-14, their biggest lead of the game just shy of three minutes into the half.  “That was a good start with good shots after running our offense,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We only gave up one field goal in three minutes and that was good too.” The Pirate offense went as cold as the temperature outside as they were outscored 24-3 over a nine-minute span and trailed 36-23 with 6:30 minutes left in the game.  “The great things we were doing we stopped doing for a while,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Our collective team defense wasn’t as strong during that stretch.” Crookston trailed by 13 (38-25) with 5:05 remaining when the offense caught fire.  Emma Osborn made four free throws over a 16-second span, followed by a three-pointer by Ally Perreault to get within a 40-34 deficit.  It was at this point in the game when Halle Winjum took over.  Halle made a three-pointer to bring the Pirates within a three-point (40-37) deficit with 3:39 left.  “That was the game right there,” said Coach Zimmerman.  “That was a fun stretch of basketball, we played great offense and solid defense.” After a Fergus Falls three, Halle Winjum had a basket, followed by an Abby Borowicz three with 1:42 to go.  “She popped off a screen and she is a really good shooter,” said Coach Zimmerman. “That was a big shot.” Halle drove the lane and made a contested layup with 33 seconds to go and 11-seconds later Fergus Falls answered with a beautiful pass from Colbeck to Polejewski for a 45-44 Otter lead.  Crookston’s Halle Winjum had the ball at the top of the key and drove by Colbeck and shielded the ball with her body and used a two-handed scoop layup off the glass for a basket with 13.8 seconds left to give the Pirates a 46-45 lead. “It was kind of within the flow of the offense and Halle beat her defender and made a nice drive and a great finish,” said Coach Zimmerman.  Crookston called a timeout to talk things over and to set up the defense for the final seconds.  “I called a time out to set up our defense and I wanted to make sure we took away the diagonal pass and figured there would be a ball screen,” said Coach Zimmerman. Fergus Falls missed a shot with two seconds left and the rebound was grabbed as the buzzer sounded and the game was over and Crookston knocked off #9 ranked Fergus Falls 46-45. “This is a great win on their floor with a nice crowd,” said Coach Zimmerman. “This was a big win for the girls’ confidence and now we get ready for another tough game tomorrow.”

Crookston improves to 5-2 on the year and will take on Watertown-Mayer in the championship game at 2:00 p.m.  Watertown-Mayer beat Breckenridge 58-45.  Fergus Falls drops to 5-3 on the year and will play Breckenridge for third place.
J.V. – Fergus Falls won 41-20