The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team started overtime on a big run to pull away for an exciting 71-66 overtime victory over the Win-E-Mac Patriots in Erskine on Tuesday night.
FIRST HALF–
The game started with ties at 2, 6, and 9 before Crookston’s Nolan Johnson made two free throws and Reggie Winjum had a nice move inside for a basket. After a Win-E-Mac basket, the Pirates’ Johnson had a nice move in the post for a basket, Carter Fee hit a long three-pointer, and after a Patriot timeout, Crookston’s Winjum added another basket to cap an 11-2 run for a 20-11 lead with 8:31 remaining in the half. Crookston’s offense struggled for a while, and Win-E-Mac clawed back within one point (26-25) with three minutes to go. Nolan Johnson snapped an almost five-minute scoreless drought for the Pirates with a basket. After a Win-E-Mac basket, Johnson added another basket for a 30-27 lead with 1:34 to go in the half. Win-E-Mac scored to get within a one-point deficit only to have Johnson score the final four points of the half, including a beautiful spin move for a basket with five seconds left for a 34-29 lead going into halftime.
SECOND HALF–
Crookston started the second half on a 4-1 run with baskets by Johnson and Winjum for a 39-30 lead three minutes into the half. The Pirate offense struggled for the next five minutes, and Win-E-Ma got within a 42-40 deficit with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. The teams exchanged baskets before Crookston went on a 9-0 run with Beau Smith scoring six points, Nolan Cassavant making a basket, and Johnson making a free throw for a 53-42 lead with 7:54 to go. Crookston’s offense struggled for the next six minutes, and Win-E-Mac tied the game at 57 with over two minutes remaining. Crookston’s Josh Hesby made a basket with 1:57 left to regain the lead. Neither team scored for over 90 seconds, and the Pirates had a chance to take the lead but missed the front end of the bonus with 18 seconds left. Win-E-Mac called a timeout with 15 seconds left to draw up a play and made a layup with 9.7 seconds left, and a foul was called, and the Patriots had a chance to take the lead with a free throw. The free throw was good, but one of the Patriots moved before the ball hit the rim, and the free throw was waived off, and the game remained tied at 59-59. Crookston had a last-second shot that went off the back of the rim, and the buzzer sounded, forcing overtime.
OVERTIME-
Crookston had a great start to the four-minute overtime period as Carter Fee drove the lane for a layup. On the next offensive possession, Fee drove again, and the defense collapsed on him, so he bounced a pass to a wide-open Gunnar Groven for another basket. Winjum added a basket, and Beau Smith made a free throw for a 66-59 lead with 2:27 left in overtime. Once again, Crookston’s offense sputtered, and Win-E-Mac scored seven points to tie the game at 66 with about one minute remaining. Crookston’s Groven made a basket with 46 seconds to go for a 68-66 lead. Win-E-Mac missed free throws, and Crookston got the ball, and Fee was fouled and made one free throw for a 69-66 lead with 21 seconds remaining. After a Crookston timeout, Win-E-Mac wasn’t able to score on their possession, and Crookston inbounded the ball on the baseline under the Patriot basket with a couple of seconds left. Fee had a baseball pass into the front court to a streaking Nolan Cassvant, who was fouled, and he made both free throws with a half a second left in overtime to solidify the Pirate victory 71-66 in overtime.
Crookston improves to 4-17 on the year and will host the Roseau Rams, who will come in with Jordan Borowicz, who scored 70 points on Tuesday night and passed 3,000 in his career. Win-E-Mac drops to 10-14 on the year.
J.V – WEM won 60-52
| 1st | 2nd | OT | Final | |
| Crookston | 34 | 25 | 12 | 71 |
| Win-E-Mac | 29 | 30 | 7 | 66 |
| For Crookston | Points |
| Reggie Winjum | 28 |
| Nolan Johnson | 18 |
| Beau Smith | 9 |
| Carter Fee | 6 |
| Nolan Cassavant | 4 |
| Gunner Groven | 4 |
| Josh Hesby | 2 |
