The Hawley Nuggets started the game on a 24-1 run and cruised the rest of the way to a 69-36 victory over the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team in a Section 8AA matchup in Crookston.
FIRST HALF
Crookston had some good looks early in the game but they couldn’t get any shots to fall and Hawley took advantage as they started the game on a 24-1 run. Hawley scored the first nine points of the game with Justin Koski scoring four of the points, Hayden Grani added a three-pointer, and Mason Graten added two points for a 9-0 lead. “I thought they struggled against our zone right away,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “They weren’t hitting shots, but neither were we.” Crookston scored their first point of the game when Carter Bruggeman made a free throw with 14:28 left in the half. Hawley responded by going on a 15-0 run over the next eight-plus minutes for a 24-1 lead. Crookston stopped the run with a Jack Garmen free throw with six minutes to go. The free throw sparked a 4-0 run with Bruggeman making a free throw and Tristan Luckow recording the first Pirate basket of the game with 3:40 left in the half and Crookston trailed 24-5. Hawley finished the half on a 12-4 run and took a 36-9 lead into halftime. “We couldn’t get anything to go and we couldn’t even hit free throws tonight,” said Coach Garmen. “We needed to hit a few shots and some free throws and we didn’t. We weren’t sharp and didn’t have a lot of energy tonight.”
SECOND HALF
Hawley outscored Crookston by an 18-9 margin in the first six minutes of the second half. Crookston went on a 10-0 run with Jacob Miller making a three-pointer, Jack Garmen and Jacob Hesby added baskets, and Easton Tangquist made a three-pointer to bring the Pirates within a 54-28 deficit with 9:40 left in the game. “I didn’t realize we did that,” said Coach Garmen. “It sure didn’t seem like we did that, but obviously we needed a little more than a 10 point run.” Hawley slowly built on the lead the rest of the game and both teams played everybody that dressed and the Nuggets won the game 69-36. “It was a tough game tonight,” said Coach Garmen. “We played well at Ada on Friday, but we didn’t have that same energy tonight.”
Crookston drops to 1-13 on the year and will host Fosston on Friday. Hawley improves to 6-7 on the year.
J.V. – Hawley won 71-32 C Squad – Hawley won 59-24
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Hawley | 36 | 33 | 69 |
| CROOKSTON | 9 | 27 | 36 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Jack Garmen | 9 | 4 | 2 steals/2 assists |
| Carter Bruggeman | 9 | 6 | 2 assists |
| Jacob Hesby | 4 | 4 | 2 steals |
| Tristan Luckow | 3 | 3 | 2 steals |
| Easton Tangquist | 3 | 4 | |
| Jacob Miller | 3 | 3 | |
| Brooks Butt | 3 | ||
| Lucas Winger | 2 |
| For Hawley | Points |
| Justin Koski | 15 |
| Hayden Grani | 12 |
| Bryant Carlisle | 10 |
| Mason Graten | 8 |
| Brady Graten | 5 |
| Gavin Klevgard | 5 |
| Brevin Stoa | 5 |
| Gavin Rodke | 4 |
| Alex Bratch | 3 |
| Carson Brew | 2 |
