CROOKSTON GIRL’S BASKETBALL USE 31-2 RUN TO BEAT WARROAD

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team started the game on a 31-2 run and never looked back as they played all 15 players on the roster and had nine players score on their way to a 60-22 victory over the Warroad Warriors in a Section 8AA matchup played in Crookston. 

FIRST HALF – 
Crookston’s Emma Boll gave the Pirates a spark as she scored the first four points of the game, with the second basket coming off an offensive rebound and putback. “Emma (Boll) came out with a lot of energy,” said Pirate Coach Darin Zimmerman. “She made Warroad pay when she got it.”  Emma Osborn followed with four straight points and Halle Winjum wrapped up the run with a basket and Crookston led 12-0 with 12:10 remaining in the half. “There probably isn’t anybody that has put in more time into her game than Emma (Osborn),” said Coach Zimmerman. “She has good instincts defensively and she can shoot the ball.”  Warroad finally got on the board when Catherine Thompson made a long two-point shot with 11:19 left.  Crookston responded with an Ally Perreault basket that sparked a 19-0 run for a 31-2 lead with four minutes left in the half. “Ally plays 100 percent all the time,” said Coach Zimmerman.  “Coming into today the focus was execution and it was good to see us get a good start.”
Warroad finally got a little offense going with a Thompson three-point play and a basket from Faith Lilly, but Crookston took a 38-7 lead into halftime. “It was a good first half, we played more fundamental basketball,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We played good defense and had good ball pressure, I thought.”

SECOND HALF – 
Crookston started the second half with outstanding defense and they turned four steals into eight points for a 46-7 lead. “The first four minutes of the second half was arguably the best basketball we played in the game,” said Coach Zimmerman. “If we can turn teams over we have the athletes to get out and run.  The defense set it all up and if we play consistent defense we can get some runs.” Warroad took better care of the ball and scored five straight points, including a Thompson three-pointer.  Crookston answered with a Hayden Winjum three-point play and the Pirates led 49-12 with 13 minutes to play.  Crookston went to the bench the rest of the way and played all 15 players getting into the game and they held on for a 60-22 victory.  “It was a good game and it was nice to get everybody in the game to see the pace of the varsity level,” said Coach Zimmerman.  “It was a good effort and a nice way to bounce back.  We are still getting the girls to gel a little bit and Emma (Borowicz) has been out for almost a year so she is still trying to get back into it and she looked better today so that was great to see.”

Crookston improves to 2-0 on the year and will travel to Fertile-Beltrami on Tuesday.  Warroad drops to 0-2 on the year. 
J.V. – Crookston won 52-26

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