The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team used outstanding defense and a quick-hit offense to wear down the Badger-Greenbush-Middle River Gators for a 79-60 victory in a game played in “The Swamp” in Greenbush. “I think, for 36 minutes, this was one of our better games of the season,” said Pirate Coach Darin Zimmerman. “Especially on the offensive end. We executed and ran the offense well and when they went in, they went in.”
FIRST HALF –
Crookston jumped out to a 4-0 lead after an Emma Borowicz steal that led to a Hayden Winjum basket, which was followed two Kasey Cwikla free throws. “We wanted to come out playing aggressive and playing our style,” said Coach Zimmerman. BGMR answered with a free throw and a three-pointer to tie the game at 4-4. The teams were tied again at 6-6 just over three minutes into the game. BGMR took their first lead with two free throws from Anissah Novacek for an 8-6 lead. Crookston answered with a Dani Boyle three-pointer before the Gators followed with a basket for a 10-9 lead with 13:07 left in the half. It was this point in the game, the Pirates started to wear down BGMR with their defense, and they went on a 10-2 run led by four points from Emma Borowicz, and Crookston led 19-12. “That got us going and playing our way,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Once we got the run going we settled in a little more.” The teams played even for about five minutes until Crookston’s Emma Borowicz took over the game. Emma had a steal that led to a layup, and after a BGMR basket, she followed with back-to-back three-pointers in the final 95 seconds of the half to give the Pirates a 33-21 lead going into halftime. Crookston was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. “I thought we shot the ball well and it was nice to see the girls were aggressive and making their free throws,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Emma took over and was playing great at the end of the half.”
SECOND HALF –
Crookston carried the momentum from the end of the first half into the second half and scored 21 points in just over five minutes to start the half and took a 54-28 lead. “That was a quick start for us and we had a bounce in our step and had a better energy,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We converted our opportunities and played some very good basketball.” The Pirates used tenacious defense and quick-hitting offense during the run and were led by Emma Borowicz’s nine points and Hayden Winjum’s five points in the run. Crookston continued to dominate the rest of the half behind great teamwork while making the extra pass, solid defense to force continuous Gator turnovers, and they were able to get all the players in the game and cruised the rest of the way for a 79-60 victory. “It was a good all-around game for us and we played well in all facets of the game. BGMR is a well-coached team and a very good team and for us to play as well as we did was great to see. It was a great team effort.”
Crookston improves to 13-2 on the year and will have another tough test next week when they host Ada-Borup/West on Tuesday, January 21, and Perham on Thursday, January 23 (both at home). BGMR drops to 11-4 on the year and will host another top team in Section 8AA, Roseau, on Thursday.
J.V. – BGMR won 42-40 C squad – BGMR won 45-29
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| CROOKSTON | 33 | 46 | 79 |
| BGMR | 21 | 39 | 60 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebound | Steals/Assists |
| Emma Borowicz | 26 | 4 steals/3 assists | |
| Hayden Winjum | 15 | 5 | 5 steals/3 assists |
| Halle Winjum | 13 | 4 | 3 steals/2 assists |
| Kasey Cwikla | 9 | 3 | |
| Abby Borowicz | 7 | ||
| Dani Boyle | 5 | 3 | |
| Gretchen Theis | 3 | ||
| Madison Hoiland | 1 |
| For B-G-MR | Points |
| Kinsley Hanson | 15 |
| Jacey Wojchowski | 9 |
| Alyssa Rinde | 8 |
| Ella Kobernick | 7 |
| Anissah Novacek | 4 |
| Mariah Christian | 3 |
| Erika Howell | 3 |
| Jade Reese | 3 |
| Tessany Blazek | 3 |
| Cassie Dahl | 3 |
| Lexi Benke | 2 |
