Crookston Pirates Boy’s Basketball Senior Jack Garmen is great at doing something that many are not, taking a charge. Jack has taken a total of 90 in his career for the Pirates including an incredible 33 this season as a Senior. Jack took 25 in both his Junior and Sophomore seasons and recorded seven as a Freshman.
The stat is not tracked by the Minnesota State High School League, but Jack would undoubtedly be in the conversion to have the most in a career in the State
of Minnesota. The most charges taken in a career for the Crookston Boy’s Basketball team was 31 by his older brother Nick Garmen. To put things in perspective, if Jack had only played this year, he would still hold the record with 33. Instead, he’s had the opportunity of playing a key role for the Pirates since his Freshman season and has amassed 90 over the course of his career. He will also own the top three spots in the record book for most charges taken in a single season, and whatever the number ends up being from this year, could be one that isn’t touched for a long time.
According to Jack, he claims taking a charge comes down to two things, being willing to lay your body on the line, and being in the right place at the right time. “I would say it’s both of those things,” said Jack Garmen. “I am a little slow and don’t move that well, so it actually sometimes puts me in a better position to take a charge. Then it comes down to a willingness to take it.”
Jack has also become more aware of when the best opportunities to take a charge are. “I would say I have a pretty good feeling of when to take one,” said Jack Garmen. “I just pick my spots and other times I just read when I need to step in and play help defense and let them run into me and I take it.”
Jack was also able to describe why he loves being able to take a charge, and just how much it can swing the momentum in a game. “It can be a huge play in a basketball game,” said Jack Garmen. “It can swing the momentum back in your favor and I’m already used to it being I’ve been taking them since my Freshman year, and I’ve just gotten more used to it over the years.”
Along with the Crookston Pirates Boy’s basketball records for most charges taken in a season, and in a career, Jack has also managed to take up to five charges in a single game. He accomplished this feature in a game earlier this season against Bagley. He also took four in a home game against East Grand Forks this season back in January.
Oddly enough, out of all the charges Jack has taken over the years, he does have one that sticks out in his mind. “My Sophomore season we were playing Wadena-Deer Creek at home, and they had a guy who was about 350 lbs,” said Jack Garmen. “I could see the play developing and I thought to myself “This is going to hurt”, but I took it and hopped right back up after a few moments as if nothing happened. It’s also been fun to take four or five of them in a single game so that sticks out as well.”
Jack is also the leading scorer on the team this season and contributes in a variety of other ways as well. He has also had the unique opportunity that many kids don’t get. His father Greg is not only the Activities Director at the High School but also the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach. Jack says there have been times where it can be frustrating and difficult, but overall, it’s been great. “It’s been rewarding,” said Jack Garmen. “It has been tough at times, but it’s something I wouldn’t trade away. It’s been nice to be able to have the opportunities to come in early and shoot in the gym and have him coach me over the years.”
The unique opportunity has led Jack to realize what he will miss most once his career wraps up in a couple of weeks. “I will just miss coming into the gym,” said Jack. “I’ve been coming here for the past eighteen years of my life, and it’s been a huge part of my life. It’s going to be something that I miss a lot.”
Jack plans on attending the University of Minnesota Crookston this fall and will not pursue playing basketball at the college level. For now, however, he will have a few more opportunities to put the Pirate jersey on and compete with his fellow teammates on the hardwood. “I’m hoping we can get a few more wins and finish strong,” said Jack Garmen. “It would be nice to play well at the end of the season and that way we can go into the playoffs with the right mindset.”
The Crookston Pirates Boy’s Basketball team is in action tomorrow night when they host the Roseau Rams from inside the Crookston High School gymnasium. They will then play at Wadena-Deer Creek on Friday night, before ending the regular season next week with games against Sacred Heart, Bagley, and Ada-Borup/West. The Section 8AA Tournament will then begin on Thursday, March 10, with the first-round games.
Below is a short video of just a few of the charges Jack has taken this season.
