The Fertile-Beltrami Falcons used a 21-2 run in the second half to build a big lead and held on the rest of the way to beat the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team 77-54 at the Crookston High School gymnasium. Fertile-Beltrami’s Drew Gullickson (6’7 junior), Preston Hanson (6’5 junior), and Gage Henrickson (6’5 junior) scored 52 points in the game to lead the Falcons.
FIRST HALF –
Fertile-Beltrami had a great start as they took a 7-0 lead with a Bryer Strem three-pointer and a pair of baskets by Drew Gullickson. Crookston’s first points came on a Tyler Michaelson three-pointer before the Falcon’s Gullickson had another layup for a 9-3 lead. Crookston answered with a Michaelson three-pointer and a Hunter Nicholas basket to get within a 9-8 deficit. Fertile-Beltrami’s Preston Hanson and Gullickson made baskets before Crookston went on a 10-0 run. Jack Everett and Reggie Winjum made baskets before Matt Contreras and Everett made three-pointers for an 18-13 lead with 9:34 left in the half.
Fertile-Beltrami responded with five straight points with a Gage Henrickson free throw and two Gullickson baskets to tie the game at 18. Crookston built a 25-19 lead behind three-pointers from Matthew Contreras and Michaelson before Fertile-Beltrami went on a 9-0 run. Gullickson started the run with a free throw, Preston Hanson added a basket, Henrickson added a free throw before Caleb Sather converted a three-point play, and Henrickson capped the run with a basket for a 28-24 lead with 3:03 left in the half. Crookston’s Nicholas stopped the run with a basket, and after another Falcon basket from Gullickson, Nicholas converted a three-point play to get the Pirates within a 30-29 deficit. Fertile-Beltrami ended the half on a 5-0 run with a Kolby Hemmah three-pointer and a Strem basket for a 35-29 lead at halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Fertile-Beltrami’s Hanson scored the first basket of the second half before Crookston’s Winjum, and Nicholas made baskets to get within a 37-33 deficit. Fertile-Beltrami took control of the game with stellar defense,e leading to a 27-5 run over an eight-minute span. A Strem three-pointer sparked the run. In the run, Hanson added seven points, Henrickson had six, Strem and Caleb Sather added five points apiece, and Gullickson added four points for a 66-39 lead with 7:54 remaining. Fertile-Beltrami had a 72-43 lead when Crookston’s Contreras had a steal for a layup, Zachariah Ali made a free throw, and Contreras had another steal and a layup. After a Falcon free throw and basket, Bradyn Pederson made a basket, Carter Fee had a reverse layup, and Pederson added two free throws to bring the Pirates within a 75-54 deficit with 70 seconds left in the game. The final points were a Falcon basket by Erik Stromstad and Fertile-Beltrami won 77-54.
Crookston drops to 3-11 on the year and will travel to Thief River Falls on Tuesday. Fertile-Beltrami improves to 13-3 on the year and will play Bagley on Tuesday.
JV- Fertile-Beltrami won 56-35
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Fertile-Beltrami | 35 | 42 | 77 |
| Crookston | 29 | 25 | 54 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Steal/Assists |
| Hunter Nicholas | 16 | 2 | 1 steal |
| Matt Contreras | 13 | 1 | 2 steals/1 assist |
| Tyler Michaelson | 9 | 2 assists | |
| Jack Everett | 5 | 2 | 1 assist/1 steal |
| Reggie Winjum | 4 | 4 | 4 steals/2 assists |
| Bradyn Pederson | 4 | ||
| Carter Fee | 2 | 1 | |
| Zachariah Ali | 1 | 2 steals |
| For Fertile-Beltrami | Points |
| Drew Gullickson | 23 |
| Preston Hanson | 16 |
| Gage Henrickson | 13 |
| Bryer Strem | 10 |
| Caleb Sather | 8 |
| Kolby Hemmah | 3 |
| Clabe Stoltman | 2 |
| Erik Stromstad | 2 |
