CROOKSTON GIRL’S BASKETBALL WINS 10TH STRAIGHT BY DOMINATING ADA-BORUP/WEST

The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team won its 10th game in a row by dominating the Ada-Borup-West Cougars by forcing 15 first-half turnovers to spark a 21-0 run and they cruised the rest of the way for a 64-24 victory in a game played at Ada.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston’s Abby Borowicz started the scoring with two free throws 28 seconds into the game for a 2-0 lead.  After an ABW basket, Hayden Winjum scored, and on the next possession, Halle Winjum made two free throws after the Pirates grabbed four offensive rebounds to keep the possession alive for a 6-2 lead.  Hayden Winjum added a free throw over five minutes into the game for a 7-2 lead.  Crookston led 10-7 with 11:40 left in the half when they went on a 21-0 run over a nine-minute span.  The run was started by a three-pointer from Emma Osborn, Emma Gunderson scored six points with a Madison Hoiland offensive rebound and basket.  Hayden Winjum added two free throws, Osborn chipped in a basket, Ally Perreault made two free throws, and Halle Winjum capped the run with a steal (13th Ada-Borup-West turnover) and a basket for a 31-7 lead with 3:13 remaining in the half. “We started a little slow but settled in and started getting our hands on things,” said Pirate Coach Darin Zimmerman. “Emma Gunderson had her best offensive game for us as she found the open spots on the floor and was in the right spot at the right time.” Crookston took a 38-13 lead into halftime when Osborn buried a three-pointer from the corner right before the buzzer sounded.  “That shot was a little extra momentum for us,” said Coach Zimmerman. 

SECOND HALF –
Crookston scored the first five points of the second half, including a three-pointer from Hayden Winjum for a 43-13 lead. Crookston responded on an 8-0 run with Hayden Winjum scoring half the points for a 51-15 lead with 11:25 left in the game.  Halfway through the half, Osborn made a basket on a nice one-handed catch and layup for a 57-18 lead.  Crookston went to the bench a few minutes later leading 62-22 with six minutes left and with running time, the final minutes sped by and the Pirates won 64-24. “Defensively I thought we played a good game.  We rebounded pretty well and that was nice to see,” said Coach Zimmerman. “It was a nice win against a good Ada-Borup-West team.”

Crookston improves to 13-2 on the year and will host Roseau in a big Section 8AA game on Monday, January 31.  Ada-Borup-West drops to 7-7 on the year.
J.V. – Crookston won 40-36 in overtime.