The East Grand Forks Green Wave used a 15-2 run halfway through the first half to build a double-digit lead, and that proved to be the difference as they beat the Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team 59-42 in a Section 8AA matchup at the East Grand Forks Senior High School gymnasium.
FIRST HALF-
Crookston started the game strong on the defensive end, making it challenging for East Grand Forks. Crookston also had some nice box-outs by Emma Gunderson and Isabelle Smith to not allow any offensive rebounds. The Pirate defense sparked the offense as Smith stole the ball and drove into the basket for a layup for a 2-0 Pirate lead 90 seconds into the game. The Pirates followed up with a fastbreak point as Naomi Johnson ran the floor and was rewarded with a layup for a 4-0 Crookston lead.
East Grand Forks finally got on the board with two free throws by Allison Kovar. Crookston responded with a Smith three-pointer for a 7-2 lead three and a half minutes into the game. East Grand Forks answered in a big way as they stepped up the defensive pressure and went on a 20-2 run while taking advantage of Pirate turnovers and the Green Wave’s hot shooting, as they had four three-pointers in the run for a 22-9 lead halfway through the half. Crookston stopped the run with a Johnson basket in the paint only to have Emily Marcotte steal the ball under the Green Wave basket and scored while getting fouled and later converted the three-point play. Tatem Votava added four points, and Camryn Adams added a basket to cap a 10-0 run for a 32-11 lead with 4:45 to go. Crookston’s Joey Nesseth stopped the run with two free throws.
Crookston finished the half on a 6-0 run with baskets from Nesseth, Grace Boll, and Johnson to get within a 32-17 deficit.
SECOND HALF –
East Grand Forks scored the first three points of the half before Crookston’s Chloe Boll made two free throws and then added a three-pointer to bring the Pirates within a 35-22 deficit two minutes into the half.
The teams exchanged baskets for the next seven minutes, and East Grand Forks had a 46-28 lead after three straight points from Votava halfway through the half. Crookston’s Boll made a three-pointer, but the Green Wave had an answer with a basket. For the rest of the game, Crookston would score only to have East Grand Forks answer, and the Green Wave won 59-42. The second half was even as East Grand Forks outscored Crookston by a 27-25 margin.
Crookston drops to 3-15 on the year and will travel to Hawley on Monday. The Pirates showed improvement as East Grand Forks won the first meeting 64-35 in Crookston on December 12. East Grand Forks improves to 15-4 on the year and is currently in second place in Section 8AA behind top-10 ranked Perham.
CLICK HERE to listen to Coach Darin Zimmerman’s post-game comments.
|
|
1st
|
2nd
|
Final
|
|
Crookston
|
17 | 25 | 42 |
| East Grand Forks | 32 | 27 | 59 |
|
For Crookston
|
Points
|
| Chloe Boll | 10 |
| Naomi Johnson | 10 |
| Isabelle Smith | 9 |
| Joey Nesseth | 5 |
| Emma Gunderson | 4 |
| Grace Boll | 4 |
|
For East Grand Forks
|
Points
|
| Tatem Votava | 13 |
| Kylee Mattson | 12 |
| Taylor Bergh | 9 |
| Mac Fitzpatrick | 6 |
| Mya Langerud Ellie Marcott |
5 5 |
| Karlee Walsh | 4 |
| Camryn Adams Ella Thorvilson |
3 2 |
Tags:
