CROOKSTON GIRL’S BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS IN 65-50 SECTION SEMI LOSS TO FERGUS FALLS

The Crookston Pirates Girl’s basketball team saw their incredible season come to an end on Wednesday night, with a 65-50 loss to Fergus Falls in the Section 8AA Semifinals at Detroit Lakes High School. Fergus Falls used a 19-2 run at the end of the first half into the start of the second half to open a lead they would hold the rest of the game.

FIRST HALF –
Each team started the game shooting well, as both teams made their first two shots of the game, one two and one three, giving us an early 5-5 tie with 16:25 remaining in the first half. Scoring for Crookston was Abby Borowicz on a layup and Hayden Winjum knocking down a three. Hayden Winjum would knock down another three shortly after, and Fergus Falls would respond with a layup making it 8-7 Pirates. Hayden wasn’t the only Winjum ready to play, as her sister Halle would answer back for the Pirates knocking down a three giving Crookston an 11-7 lead with 14:01 on the clock. Crookston continued their hot shooting, as Emma Osborn would get in on the fun making the Pirates fourth three of the half to give Crookston a 14-9 edge. The Otters would counter with a 6-0 run capped off by an and-one, but Crookston would take the lead right back on another three, this time from Abby Borowicz making it 17-15 Pirates. Fergus Falls would again go on a quick 5-2 run to take the lead back at 20-19 with 6:05 left to play in the first half, forcing a Crookston timeout. Out of the timeout, Crookston cooled down the remainder of the half, allowing Fergus Falls to take control of the game. The Otters would end the half on a 12-4 scoring run to take a 32-23 lead into the halftime break. Crookston was led by Hayden Winjum with 8 points and Abby Borowicz with 7. Leading the way for Fergus Falls was Tori Ratz with 10 points and South Dakota State recruit Ellie Colbeck with 8.

SECOND HALF –
It was all Fergus Falls at the beginning of the second half, as the Otters went on a 9-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 41-25 with 13:44 left to play. Going back to the end of the first half, the Otters were on a 19-2 run over 8:55 of game time to build the big lead. Crookston would respond with a three from Emma Osborn, but the Otters would rattle off four straight points to go up 45-28. After the teams traded a few baskets to make the score 50-34 Otters, Crookston would go on their biggest run of the game to make things interesting. The Pirates would go on an 8-0 run, with all the points coming from Halle Winjum, to cut the lead to single digits with the Otters in front 50-42 with 8:42 left to play. Fergus Falls would take a timeout, and out of the timeout, the Otters ramped up the defensive pressure, forcing multiple Pirates turnovers. They would take advantage of those turnovers and go on a 4-0 run to regain the momentum with a 54-42 lead with 5:19 left to play. The Pirates scoring drought would continue, and the lead would never get closer than 12 the rest of the game, as Fergus Falls would cruise the rest of the way for a 65-50 win. Fergus Falls was too much for the Pirates on both sides, specifically South Dakota State recruit Ellie Colbeck who led the way for the Otters with 22 points. Crookston was led by Halle Winjum with 14 points and 10 apiece from Hayden Winjum and Abby Borowicz.

Crookston finishes their season with a final record of 23-6. The Pirates will lose nine Seniors from their roster for next season, as Jenna Coautte, Emma Osborn, Hannah Loraas, Amelia Overgaard, Hayden Winjum, Bailey Cameron, Madison Hoiland, Ellie Nesseth, and Ally Perreault will graduate this spring. Fergus Falls improves to 23-5 with the win and will play Menagha in the Section 8AA Championship on Friday night for a trip to the State Tournament.

The full postgame interview with Pirates Head Coach Darin Zimmerman can be found down below. 

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