CROOKSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL EDGES THIEF RIVER FALLS

The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team played well and was able to get some big plays in the final minutes to beat the Thief River Falls Prowlers 50-46 in a Section 8AA matchup at the Crookston High School Gymnasium.

FIRST HALF-
The Pirates started the game with an early lead as Emma Gunderson knocked down a shot to give Crookston the first points of the ballgame. Naomi Johnson hit a three to give Crookston a 5-4 lead. Avah Waldal for Thief River Falls hit back-to-back baskets to tie the game up at ten apiece. Later in the half, Grace Boll fired a pass to Gunderson, who was able to make a lay-up to give Crookston a 14-10 lead. Isabelle Smith knocked down her first three of the game later in the half to give Crookston a 19-13 lead. With a few minutes to go in the first half, Naomi Johnson was fouled on a three-point attempt, sending her to the free-throw line for three foul shots. Johnson connected on all three free throws to give Crookston a 25-17 lead. Johnson finished the game going a perfect seven for seven from the free throw stripe. Thief River Falls answered with Breanna Myers, who drove to the basket, got fouled, and made her basket. Myers couldn’t hit the free throw, but the Prowlers were able to end the half on a small 5-0 run to cut the Pirates’ lead down to three. Crookston lead at the break, 25-22.

SECOND HALF –
To begin the second half, the defensive intensity for both sides picked up, but Josie Peterson was able to make a basket while drawing contact, but she couldn’t hit the free throw, and Crookston maintained a 25-24 lead. Chloe Boll for Crookston hit a three for the Pirates to give them a 28-26 lead, ending Thief River Falls’ 9-0 run. Joey Nesseth came off the bench for Crookston and found herself open from beyond the arc. She knocked down a triple to give Crookston a 33-29 lead. Isabelle Smith followed up with a three of her own to give Crookston a 36-29 lead with the help of an 8-0 run. Naomi Johnson secured an offensive rebound for Crookston and quickly put it back and in to give the Pirates a 39-32 lead. After Crookston built up a ten-point lead at 44-34, Thief River Falls responded with a three from Myers to make it 44-37.
Grace Boll for Crookston got her first field goal of the game late in the second half as she collected an offensive rebound and got her putback to fall, giving the Pirates a 47-40 lead. Thief River Falls fought back, using a 12-3 run, which was capped by Myers hitting another three to cut Crookston’s lead down to 47-46. The Prowlers had a chance with under 30 seconds left to take the lead, but Crookston’s post defense came up strong, forcing a tough shot, and Chloe Boll would get fouled and sent to the free throw line. Boll went one for two from the free-throw line, making it 48-46. Thief River Falls called a timeout with ten seconds left but turned it over, and Isabelle Smith picked up the loose ball and drew an intentional foul, which sent her to the free-throw line and gave Crookston possession with only 1.5 seconds left. Smith knocked down both free throws and the Pirates ran out the clock for a 50-46 victory.

Crookston improves to 3-12 on the season and will host Barnesville on Friday on the KROX YouTube Channel. Thief River Falls drops to 2-11 on the year and will take on Roseau on Thursday.
JV – Crox wins 23-18. (Only played one half.)

Click here for Coach Zimmerman’s post-game interview.

Click here for Naomi Johnson’s post-game interview.