HUNTER NICHOLAS BREAKS REBOUNDING RECORD IN WIN OVER STEPHEN-ARGYLE

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team’s junior post-player, Hunter Nicholas, scored 25 points and grabbed 20 rebounds as he broke the Pirate Boys Basketball season rebounding record with his third rebound, passing Emanuel McCullough’s 312. With his 13th rebound of the game, Nicholas broke the Pirate Boys Basketball career rebound record with 737, passing Caden Osborne’s 736. Nicholas also led his team to a 58-55 victory over the Stephen-Argyle Storm 58-55 at the Crookston High School gymnasium. 

FIRST HALF-
The teams battled back and forth, with four lead changes in the game’s first two minutes. With Crookston trailing 5-4, they went on an 8-0 run with Hunter Nicholas scoring all eight points for a 12-5 lead. Stephen-Argyle responded with a 7-0 run with three-pointers from Shay Setterholm and Blaine Smith, followed by Raydon Woinarowicz’s free throw to tie the game at 12-12. The game was tied again at 14 before Crookston scored six straight points, with Reggie Winjum scoring four and Tyler Michaelson adding two for a 20-14 lead with 6:22 left in the half. Stephen-Argyle responded with six straight points, Dylan Widner had four points, and Caden Pagnac added two to tie the game at 20.  The game was tied at 23 and 26 before Stephen-Argyle ended the half on a 4-0 run with baskets from Widner and Carlson for a 30-26 lead going into halftime.

SECOND HALF-
Stephen-Argyle carried the momentum from the end of the first half into the second half as they scored the first seven points, with Setterholm scoring four points and Carlson adding a basket for a 37-26 lead. Crookston responded with a 12-1 run with seven points scored by Nicholas, a three-pointer from Jack Everett, and two free throws from Isaac Thomforde to tie the game at 38. The score was tied at 47 when Crookston’s Boike stole the ball and went coast to coast for a layup, and that was followed by an offensive rebound and basket from Michaelson for a 51-47 lead with 4:31 remaining.
After a Storm basket from Carlson, the Pirates responded with a Nicholas three-pointer and another Michaelson basket for a 56-49 lead. The Storm came back with four points from Widner to get within a 56-53 deficit with 1:15 to go.
Crookston’s Nicholas responded with a free throw before Stephen-Argyle’s Pagnac scored a basket to get within a 57-55 deficit with 24 seconds remaining. Crookston’s Winjum was fouled with one second left in the game, made the first shot, and missed the second shot. The Storm’s Carlson grabbed the rebound, and his fullcourt shot was wide left, and Crookston held on for a 68-65 victory.

Crookston improves to 5-15 on the year and will host East Grand Forks on Tuesday. Stephen-Argyle drops to 5-14 on the year.

CLICK HERE for Crookston Coach Greg Garmen’s post-game comments.