The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team didn’t play their best offensive game, but they played another outstanding game on the defensive end and coasted to a 65-37 victory over the Thief River Falls Prowlers in a Section 8AA matchup in Thief River Falls. “Defense is what will win you games,” said Coach Darin Zimmerman. “But, it doesn’t hurt to shoot the ball well.”
FIRST HALF
Crookston started the game by going on an 11-3 run with Abby Borowicz scoring the first basket of the game. Halle Winjum made a free throw and Hayden Winjum added a basket for a 5-0 lead. After Thief River Falls’ Abigail Flaagen scored the first Prowler points with a three-pointer, but Crookston responded with a Hayden Winjum basket, and back-to-back offensive rebounds for baskets by Emma Borowicz and Emma Boll for an 11-3 lead less than six minutes into the game. “Rebounding is an area of emphasis for us,” said Coach Zimmerman. “I thought we did a great job of getting the rebounds and I was impressed with our tenasity.”
Thief River Falls answered with an 8-0 run of their own with a basket from Flaagen, which was followed up by back-to-back three-pointers from Kendal Rantanen and Maren Espe to tie the game at 11 with 10:22 left in the first half. “Thief River Falls has some good shooters and they came ready to play tonight,” said Coach Zimmerman. “They were executing their halfcourt offense and give credit to them.”
Crookston picked up their defensive pressure and went on a 6-0 run with Ally Perreault scoring four of the points, including two on an offensive rebound and putback. A few minutes later, Crookston led 20-14 with 7:40 remaining in the half when Halle Winjum gave her team another spark. Halle had a reverse layup, followed by a three-pointer. Emma Bororowicz and Hayden Winjum added baskets to cap an 11-0 run for a 31-14 lead. “That was in important stretch and the nice thing it was everybody doing something,” said Coach Zimmerman. “That is what makes us a good team, we have so many players that can hurt you.”
Thief River Falls outscored Crookston 9-5 in the final four minutes and the Pirates took a 36-23 lead into halftime. “We didn’t shoot the ball very well in the first half and we didn’t finish well,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We put finish on the whiteboard at halftime. We had good shot selection and good shots, but the execution wasn’t as good as we want it to be.”
SECOND HALF
Crookston stepped up the defensive pressure to start the second half as they turned several Thief River Falls turnovers into points and went on a 9-0 run. Hayden Winjum had four points, Halle Winjum made a three-pointer and Ally Perreault had a basket in the paint to give the Pirates a 45-23 lead. “Emma had two nice passes up the floor for our first two baskets,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We also picked up the defense a couple of steps to start the second half and that was nice to see.”
After a Thief River Falls basket over four minutes into the half, Crookston responded with an impressive three-point play from Jenna Coauette. Jenna cut to the basket and was fouled hard, but still muscled up the shot and the ball went through the hoop and she followed by making the free throw. “That was a huge momentum play,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Jenna powered through and made the shot and also made the free throw. She had another good game for us.”
The Pirates continued their suffocating defense as they only allowed six Prowler points in the first 13 minutes of the half. Crookston was able to get everybody dressed into the game for the second straight game and the highlight in the final minutes was Ellie Nesseth making a free throw for the first varsity point of her career and Crookston won the game 65-37. “We played defense in the second half like we want to play,” said Coach Zimmerman. “We forced them into a lot of turnovers and we finished off strong. And having Ellie Nesseth get her first varsity points was a pretty fun way to cap the night because she works so hard.”
Crookston improves to 12-3 on the year and will travel to Moorhead on Monday. Thief River Falls drops to 2-12 on the season.
J.V. – TRF won 45-31 C Squad – TRF won 55-5
1st | 2nd | Final | |
Thief River Falls | 23 | 14 | 37 |
CROOKSTON | 36 | 29 | 65 |
For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
Halle Winjum | 19 | 3 | 7 steals/2 assists |
Hayden Winjum | 11 | 3 | 3 steals/2 assists |
Emma Borowicz | 9 | 8 | 6 steals/5 assists |
Ally Perreault | 8 | 3 | |
Emma Boll | 6 | 9 | 2 steals |
Abby Borowicz | 5 | ||
Jenna Coauette | 3 | 2 steals | |
Amelia Overgaard | 3 | ||
Ellie Nesseth | 1 |
For Thief River Falls | Points |
Abigail Flaagen | 10 |
Maren Espe | 8 |
Kendal Rantanen | 6 |
Jeanne Olson | 4 |
Trista Spears | 2 |
Olivia Hawkins | 2 |
Sydney Reierson | 2 |
Ava Waldahl | 2 |