CROOKSTON GIRL’S BASKETBALL PICKS UP ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE WIN THANKS TO FAST START

The Crookston Pirates Girl’s Basketball team was back on their home court Thursday night inside of the Crookston High School when they hosted the Norman County East/Ulen-Hittherdal Titans. Crookston started the game on an 18-0 run and never trailed on their way to a 73-45 victory.

FIRST HALF –

Crookston came out ready to play and forced multiple turnovers to start the game on an 18-0 run. Every starter for Crookston got in on the action early and scored. “I liked the way we started and I thought we executed well,” said Pirates Head Coach Darin Zimmerman. “Offensively we were able to pack a punch early on and we moved the basketball very well.” After the Titans were able to settle down and score the next six of the next eight points, Crookston responded with a 10-2 scoring run to take a commanding 30-8 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the first half. The Ball movement was once again a big key for the Pirates success. The Titans however would control the remainder of the half and end the half on a 15-6 scoring run giving Crookston a 36-23 lead. The Pirates ran into some foul trouble during the Titans run and got a little sloppy themselves turning the ball over. “They started to show us different looks defensively and they did a nice job of frustrating us,” said Pirates Head Coach Darin Zimmerman. “For lack of a better term we just got lazy with the basketball. When you play a team that is mixing things up on defense and you’re lazy with the basketball, you’re going to turn it over and that’s what happened.” Crookston was led in the first half by Emma Osborn who knocked down four three-pointers. As for the Titans, they did most of their damage at the free-throw line making 9 in the first 18 minutes of play.

SECOND HALF –

The start of the second half was very similar to the first half, as Crookston went on a 15-5 run in the first three minutes and all five of the Pirates starters once again were a part of the run. “This team responds extremely well to different situations,” said Pirates Head Coach Darin Zimmerman. “I think we’ve had teams in the past that also have been able to do that, but this group specifically plays fundamental basketball very well.” Crookston followed that up with another 11-2 run and found themselves in front 62-30 with 10:28 remaining. Shortly after, Crookston would extend the lead to 67-32, and after an Emma Osborn three, the Pirates led 70-32. The rest of the game at that point was played with running time per Minnesota State High School League Rules as the Pirates had built a big enough lead. Crookston put it in cruise control the rest of the way, picking up a 73-45 victory in another impressive performance. The Pirates were led by Emma Osborn with 27 points and Halle Winjum with an incredible 16 points, 9 assists, 8 steals, and 7 rebounds. “Halle (Winjum) has really turned a corner this year,” said Pirates Head Coach Darin Zimmerman. “I’m not that surprised to hear that because she can fill up the stat sheet.”

Crookston improves to 19-3 on the season and will host the Barnesville Trojans on Saturday. The tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside the Crookston High School, and the game will be on the KROX Live Video Stream. Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal falls to 9-13 with the loss.