NAOMI JOHNSON’S 3-POINTER GIVES PIRATE GIRLS HOOPS WIN OVER EGF IN OT

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team beat the East Grand Forks Green Wave 59-56 in overtime back on December 19, and in the second meeting tonight, they won 47-44 in overtime on a Naomi Johnson three-pointer at the buzzer in a thrilling win on Pirate Sister night.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston’s Isabelle Smith made the first shot of the game with a three-pointer to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.  East Grand Forks answered with a 9-0 run, with seven of the points scored by Tatem Votava and the other two points scored by Ella Thorvilson for a 9-3 lead.  Crookston stopped the run with an Abby Borowicz three-pointer to cut the deficit to 9-6 four minutes into the game.  Halle Winjum answered with a basket to bring the Pirates within a 9-8 deficit.  The teams exchanged a basket, followed by three Pirate free throws to tie the game at 11-11 with 11 minutes left in the half.  East Grand Forks dominated the rest of the way as they outscored Crookston 19-6 in the final 11 minutes of the half for a 30-17 lead.  One highlight for Crookston in the final 11 minutes was a basket for Macy Fee, a senior post, who scored for the first time in two years after missing the last two years because of ankle injuries.

SECOND HALF –
The second half was a complete 180-degree change as Crookston dominated the half.  Emma Gunderson started the half with a basket, and Borowicz followed with a three-pointer.  After an East Grand Forks basket from Mya Langerud, Winjum added a basket, and Naomi Johnson made a free throw to bring the Pirates within a 32-25 deficit.
East Grand Forks’ Votava scored for a 34-25 lead before Crookston went on an 8-0 run over a six-minute span.  Winjum made back-to-back baskets in the lane, Borowicz added a basket, and Gunderson scored two more points to bring Crookston within a 34-33 deficit with four minutes remaining.  EGF’s Alison Kovar scored her first basket of the game before Isabelle Smith responded with a three-point play to tie the game at 36 with 2:25 left.
Kovar scored her second basket of the game to give the Green Wave a 38-36 lead.  18 seconds later, Winjum made two free throws to tie the game at 38-38 with 1:33 to go.  East Grand Forks didn’t score, and Crookston had the ball with the shot clock off and settled for the last shot.  Borowicz grabbed an offensive rebound, and the putback was just off the mark, and the buzzer sounded, forcing overtime for the second time this season.

OVERTIME – 
Crookston’s Winjum started overtime with an offensive rebound and putback and followed with another basket to give her team a 42-38 lead.  The teams exchanged baskets, and the Pirates led 44-40 with 1:33 left in overtime.  EGF’s Langrud made a three-pointer, and less than a minute later, Votava made a free throw to tie the game at 44-44 with 29.7 seconds left.  The shot clock was off, and the Pirates were going to work the clock down and settle for the last shot again.  Libby Salentine, the starting post for Crookston, fouled out, and the Pirates brought in Naomi Johnson, a sophomore post that plays sparingly in varsity games. The Pirates worked the ball around, and Chloe Boll drove towards the lane and kicked the ball to Johnson at the top of the key, she shot a three-pointer that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded as Crookston won the game 47-44 in overtime. 

Crookston improves to 10-6 on the year and will travel to Roseau on Tuesday, a game you can hear on KROX Radio.  East Grand Forks falls to 8-8 on the year. 

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