The Crookston Pirate Girls’ Basketball team battled, but Thief River Falls made their shots late in the game for a 62-58 victory in a Section 8AA game played at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls.
FIRST HALF –
Thief River Falls’s Piper Greene made a free throw and Taylor Berg had a steal and a layup to give the Prowlers a 3-0 lead to start the game. Crookston responded in a big 9-0 run behind four Chloe Boll points, two points apiece from Naomi Johnson and Joey Nesseth, and a free throw from Madi Bruggeman for a 9-3 lead over six minutes into the game. Crookston had a 13-5 lead when Thief River Falls went on an 8-0 run with four different players making a basket to tie the game at 13 with eight minutes left in the half. Crookston regained the lead with a Joey Nesseth free throw and a Chloe Boll basket. Crookston had a 22-21 lead when Thief River Falls’ Taylor Berg scored to give the Prowlers their first lead since the score was 3-2. The game was tied at 24 and 26 and Berg gave the Prowlers a 28-26 lead with one minute left in the half. Grace Boll answered with a three-point play for a 29-28 Crookston lead. TRF’s Bailey Greene made two free throws to end the half for a 30-29 lead going into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston had a great start to the half as Madi Bruggeman scored four points and Chloe Boll added a basket for a 35-30 lead three minutes into the half. TRF answered with a 6-1 run to tie the game at 36. The game was tied at 38, before Crookston’s Waldal made a basket and Bruggeman added a free throw and the Pirates added another basket for a 43-38 lead. Crookston had a 45-44 lead when TRF’s Berg made back-to-back three-pointers for a 45-44 lead. The teams exchanged baskets before the Prowlers went on a 7-0 run baskets from Greene, Karena Bakken, and a three-pointer Jerlyn Lunsetter three-pointer for a 51-45 lead. The teams exchanged baskets and TRF had a 59-52 lead with two minutes left befoe Crookston’s Bruggeman made a three-pointer to bring the Pirates wtihin a 59-55 deficit. TRF made a free throw before Crookston’s Naomi Johnson made a three-pointer to get within a 60-58 deficit with 23 seconds remaining. After Thief River Falls missed a free throw, Crookston turned the ball over and the Prowlers’ Greene made two free throws to solidify a 62-58 victory.
Crookston drops to 5-17 on the year and will travel to Stephen-Argyle on Monday. Thief River Falls improves to 13-7 on the year.
J.V. – TRF won 22-16
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 29 | 29 | 58 |
| Thief River Falls | 30 | 32 | 62 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/steals |
| Chloe Boll | 17 | 3 | 4 steals/1 assist/1 block |
| Naomi Johnson | 10 | 5 | 2 assists/1 steal/1 block |
| Grace Boll | 10 | 6 | 2 assists/2 blocks |
| Madi Bruggeman | 9 | 6 | 2 steals |
| Joey Nesseth | 5 | 7 | 2 assists/2 steals |
| Brooklyn Waldal | 4 | 2 | 1 assits |
| For Thief River Falls | Points |
| Taylor Berg | 19 |
| Josie Peterson | 8 |
| Piper Greene | 8 |
| Aniyah Field | 6 |
| Karena Bakken | 6 |
| Jerilyn Lunsetter | 5 |
| Kenzie Reynolds | 4 |
| Braylee Wienen | 4 |
| Alli Grosz | 2 |
