NICK GARMEN SCORES 40, SETS/TIES SCHOOL RECORDS AS PIRATE BOYS HOOPS EDGE BGMR IN OT

Nick Garmen scored 40 points and the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team outlasted the Badger-Greenbush-Middle River Gators in an 81-76 overtime win in a game played at the “Swamp” in Greenbush.  “I told the guys they (BGMR) are having a good year and it was going to be a good game,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen.  “It was an exciting and fun game to be a part of, and even better with a win.  It will be a nice bus ride home.”  Nick Garmen’s 40 points put him second all-time in Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball single-game scoring history, seven points behind Crookston High School Hall of Famer Henry Hulst’s 47 points.  Nick was a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line which puts him at the top of the Pirate Boys Basketball single-game free throw percentage record holder.  Jeff Bigger (1982-83) was 11 of 11 in a game and Nick Brorson (1995-96) and Matt Garmen (2016-17) were both 10 of 10 from the free throw line in a game.  Nick also made six three-pointers in the game and now has 205 career three-pointers tying Sydney Boike for the school record for three-pointers made in a career. 

The first half was a half of runs with four ties and five lead changes.  Crookston started the game on a 9-1 run, making their first three shots with Nick Garmen getting things started with a three-pointer and after a BGMR free throw, Nick answered with another three-pointer and Jack Garmen followed with a three of his own and Crookston led 9-1 two minutes into the game.  BGMR answered with an 11-0 run with two free throws and back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to take a 12-9 lead.  Crookston trailed 16-15 when Carter Bruggeman sparked an 11-0 run with a basket and Caden Osborn scored all nine of his first-half points over a 74-second span and Crookston had the lead 24-16 halfway through the first half.  BGMR, of course, answered with a run of 10 straight points to take a 26-24 lead.  The teams were tied at 29 with four minutes left in the half and Crookston’s Nick Garmen made a three with one second left in the half to tie the game at 35-35 going into halftime.  “It was nice to get the three before the half and go into the locker room tied,” said Coach Garmen. “We played a pretty good half and Nick and Caden led us (scoring 30 of the teams 35 points.)

In the second half, the teams battled back-and-forth and were tied at 38, 48 and at 56 with 4:34 left in regulation.  Crookston regained the lead with a Walker Winjum layup, which was followed by Jack Garmen taking a charge.  When Crookston got the ball back after the charge, Nick Garmen made two free throws and a few moments later he made two more free throws for a 62-56 lead.  Crookston called a time out and whatever Coach Garmen said seemed to work because the Pirates scored five straight points with two Winjum free throws and an Osborn three-point play for a 67-58 lead with 1:13 left in the game and it looked like Crookston had the victory in hand.  BGMR finished the final minute-plus with an amazing run.  They made a three-pointer and Crookston’s Jaden Lubarski made two free throws.  BGMR made a basket and Crookston’s Bruggeman made a free throw and the Gators added another basket to get within three points.  BGMR fouled and Crookston missed two free throws with 17 seconds left and the Gators’ Adam Benke made a three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 70.  Crookston got a long pass up to Caden Osborn and he tried a last-second shot, but it missed off the front of the rim as the horn sounded to force overtime with the teams tied at 70-70.

In overtime, Crookston struck first with a Lubarski basket 27 seconds into the extra session.  Bruggeman was intentionally fouled and made one free throw and Nick Garmen scored on a layup and added two more free throws with 44 seconds left and the Pirates led 77-70 with 44 seconds left.  BGMR made a three-pointer, but Winjum made two free throws and Nick Garmen added two free throws for his 39th and 40th point of the game and the Pirates held on for the exciting 81-76 overtime victory.  “Nick was shooting pretty well tonight and looking to shoot,” said Coach Garmen.  “It helps that he was shooting well at the free throw line (made 14 of 14).  I thought we played pretty well tonight.  We made some mistakes down the stretch, but we were able to make up for them with some big plays and we made some shots.”
Crookston improves to 7-12 on the year and will host Section 8AA rival on Friday at 7:30 p.m., a game you can hear on KROX Radio.  BGMR drops to 11-7 on the year.

Pirate Boys Basketball at BGMR

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