JACK GARMEN SCORES 20 SECOND HALF POINTS TO LEAD PIRATE BOYS HOOPS TO 1ST WIN

The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Basketball team had 20 second-half points from Jack Garmen to lead his team to a 58-44 victory over the Bagley Flyers in a game played in Bagley. 

FIRST HALF –
Bagley started the game by scoring the first four points before Crookston responded with a seven-point run, with Ryan Abeld scoring four points and Haden Michaelson making a three-pointer for a 7-4 lead a little over three minutes into the game. “It wasn’t the start we wanted getting down by four right away,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “But we settled down a little bit and started playing a little better.” Bagley tied it up at 7 with a basket and free throw, and a few minutes later, the Flyers led 12-10.  Crookston started to pick up the defense and turned it into instant offense as Jack Garmen scored on a layup and Jacob Hesby followed with a three-pointer before Haden Michaelson ended a 7-0 run with a basket for a 17-12 lead.  After a Bagley three-pointer from sophomore guard Alex Jobe, Crookston responded with a basket from Tanner Giese and another Hesby three-pointer for a 22-15 lead with six minutes remaining in the half.  Bagley responded with five straight points to get within a 22-20 score only to have Haden Michaelson and Evan Christensen answer with a basket apiece for a 26-20 lead.  Once again, Bagley’s Jobe answered with five straight points to get within a point before Crookston’s Giese made two free throws, and Haden Michaelson scored in the paint to give the Pirates a 30-25, a lead they took into halftime. “We missed a lot of bunnies (easy shots), probably five or six at least,” said Coach Garmen. “We should have been up by a lot more at halftime, but we will take the lead.  It is the first time this year we have led at halftime so we will take it.”

SECOND HALF – 
Jack Garmen, the senior guard for the Crookston, decided to take the game over to start the half as he went on a 10-2 run on his own for a 40-27 lead. “I got warmed up a little bit in the second half,” said Jack Garmen. “I was a little tired and shot a little better.  It just worked out and I was trying not to rush it too much.”  Coach Garmen, added with a smile, “I think he was mad he didn’t get a couple of charge calls.”  Bagley was fouled on two straight possessions and missed all four free throws but finally got back on the board with a Jobe free throw with 11:16 remaining.  After a Cameron Broden basket, Bagley got the deficit down to single digits with a 42-33 deficit.  Crookston responded with four points, with three coming from Garmen and a free throw from Evan Christensen for a 46-33 lead.  Crookston would keep the lead in double figures the rest of the game and took their biggest lead when Pirate eighth-grader Reggie Winjum scored on a layup for the first points of his varsity career for a 55-39 lead with 3:43 remaining.  Crookston held on the rest of the way for a 58-44 victory.  “Jack got it going a little bit tonight and we had a lot of young guys playing like Reggie and Isaac Thomforde,” said Coach Garmen. “It was nice to get the first win and we were short a kid tonight so we will take the win and get ready for the game on Saturday.”

Crookston improves to 1-3 on the year and will travel to Hawley on Saturday, a game you can hear on KROX Radio.  Bagley drops to 0-6 on the season. 
J.V. – Crookston won 45-34   C Squad – Crookston won 47-23