The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Basketball team gave up a 13-point lead in the second half before falling to the Barnesville Trojans 66-63 in overtime in a Section 8AA game played in Crookston.
Crookston started the game well with a Caden Osborn lay-up giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead. Walker Winjum made the first of his five three-pointers pushing the host’s lead to 5-0. After Barnesville’s Grant Inniger made a jump shot from the free-throw line, Brady Butt caught a baseline inbound pass and made a jump shot from the baseline followed by a Nick Garmen three-pointer on a pass from Caden Osborn giving Crooskton a 10-2 lead. The Trojans responded with a 5-0 run pulling within 10-7. Nick Garmen answered the visitor’s run with a three-pointer, but Barnesville countered with another 5-0 run cutting their deficit down to 13-12. Barnesville took its first lead of the night following a Caden Osborn lay-up as the Trojans scored two straight baskets to take a 16-15 lead. After Walker Winjum made a free-throw tying the game at 16-16, Crookston scored six consecutive points finished by a Caden Osbron spin on the left block resulting in a finish at the rim pushing the Pirates ahead 22-16. After a Barnesville three-pointer, Crookston went on a 12-0 run with three-pointers from Nick Garmen and Walker Winjum propelling Crookston to a 34-19 lead. Later in the half, Winjum knocked down another three-pointer giving Crookston a 39-25 lead, but Barnesville’s Adam Tonsfeldt closed the half with two free-throws pulling the visitors within 40-27 at halftime. “We shot really well early on in the first half,” said Crookston head coach Greg Garmen. “They didn’t shoot the ball well in the first half and (Hunter) Zenzen went out with a couple fouls, but when Caden went out in the second half it was almost a reversal for us.”
Brady Butt scored a lay-up to open the second half scoring giving Crookston a 42-27 lead. A Caden Osborn lay-up underneath the basket pushed the Pirates lead 44-29. Nick Garmen made a top of the key three-pointer giving Crookston a 47-31. Leading 50-36, Barnesville used a 6-0 run to pull within 50-41. Following a Walker Winjum jump shot, the Trojans used a 7-0 run to cut the deficit down to 52-50. Crookston answered with a three-pointer from Jack Garmen giving the Pirates a 55-50 lead. Barnesville’s Adam Tonsfeldt scored five-straight points tying the game at 55-55. Late in the game, Crookston trailed 59-58, but Walker Winjum buried a three-pointer giving the Pirates a 61-59 lead. Barnesville responded with a jump shot from Hunter Zenzen tying the game at 61-61. Both teams had a chance to retake the lead in regulation, but the Trojans’ buzzer-beating attempt came up well short sending the game to overtime tied 61-61. In overtime, both offenses struggled to score. Kellen Hinsz opened the overtime scoring with a lay-up giving the visitors a 63-61 lead. Caden Osborn matched the score for Crookston with a lay-up at the other end tying the game at 63-63. Just before the final minute Adam Tonsfeldt found open floor in the corner and hoisted up a three-pointer off a bounce pass burying the shot in front of his bench giving Barnesville a 66-63 lead. The Pirates’ tying shot from Walker Winjum was contested by two Trojans’ defender, but Winjum managed to get the shot off cleanly, drawing both sides of the rim but ultimately failing to drop through the net as Barnesville hung on for a 66-63 win in overtime. “We lost (Adam) Tonsfeldt when he hit that three in the corner,” said Garmen. “They go up three and we came up empty a couple times, sent them to the line, but they missed it and we got the rebound and had a chance. Walker rattled one in and out, he didn’t have a great look at it but got out of the double team and fired one up and had a chance to tie it up again and that would have been huge. We always seem to have good games with Barnesville. Triple overtime a few years ago and we always seem to have a good game with them. This is why we play, it’s exciting and there’s no outcome that guaranteed but kids got to keep working at it. I feel like we’re going in the right direction in a lot of ways. We’re getting better in each game.” Crookston was led by a career-high 22 points from Walker Winjum.
Crookston falls to 5-8 on the year and hosts Climax-Fisher on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on KROX. Barnesville improves to 8-3 on the season.
J.V. – Barnesville won 42-37 C Squad – Barnesville won 44-18
| 1st | 2nd | OT | Final | |
| Barnesville | 27 | 34 | 5 | 66 |
| Crookston | 40 | 21 | 2 | 63 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Walker Winjum | 22 | 4 | |
| Nick Garmen | 19 | 4 | |
| Caden Osborn | 12 | 6 | 7 assists |
| Jack Garmen | 6 | 3 | 3 assists |
| Brady Butt | 4 | 1 |
| For Barnesville | Points |
| Adam Tonsfeldt | 15 |
| Kellen Hinsz | 12 |
| Hunter Zenzen | 12 |
| Sam Askegaard | 10 |
| Grant Inniger | 9 |
| Kaden Zenzen | 6 |
| Jason Henrickson | 2 |
