NCE/UH MAKES 11 THREE-POINTERS TO BEAT PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL

The Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal Titans made 11 three-pointers on their way to a 65-43 victory over the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team in a game played in Twin Valley. 

FIRST HALF –
Crookston scored the first points of the game when Jacob Hesby made a long two-pointer for a 2-0 lead.  NCE/UH answered with seven straight points before Crookston’s Jack Garmen converted a three-point play and the Pirates trailed 7-5.  The teams exchanged baskets before Garmen made a three-pointer from the corner to get within a 12-10 deficit with 12:27 left in the half. “It wasn’t the worst start ever,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “We made some shots and did some nice things early.”  Crookston started to turn the ball over and the Titans turned them into easy points and went on an 8-0 run to take a 20-10 lead.  Crookston went on a 7-3 run behind five points from Jacob Hesby and two free throws from Garmen to get within a 23-17 deficit with six minutes left in the half. NCE/UH responded with an 8-0 run with all the points scored by Wyatt Crompton for a 31-17 lead.  The Titans had six three-pointers at this point in the game and that accounted for more points (18) than Crookston had total (17).  The teams exchanged points the rest of the half and Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal took a 36-21 lead into halftime. “We can’t give up that many threes and expect to be ahead at halftime,” said Coach Garmen. “We struggle to score the way it is and we can’t get behind, especially when we weren’t hitting shots.  We didn’t take good care of the ball and when they turned it over we couldn’t take advantage of it.”

SECOND HALF –
Crookston trailed 42-25 when Isaac Thomforde had a rebound and basket and followed it with a three-pointer on the next possession to bring the Pirates within a 42-30 deficit with 14:28 left in the game.  “Isaac can step out and hit the three,” said Coach Garmen. “He is a smaller post player and he battles inside and works hard.” Crookston struggled from the field and wasn’t able to make many shots while NCE/UH continued to make a few three-pointers and several run-outs for layups and easy baskets and led 65-37 with three minutes remaining.  Crookston scored the final six points of the game, all from the free throw line as NCE/UH held on for a 65-43 victory. “They guys kept working hard until the end so I will give it that to them,” said Coach Garmen. “We will have to keep working and find some other guys that can score.”

Crookston drops to 2-6 on the year and will host Red Lake County (Red Lake Falls and Red Lake County Central co-op) on Tuesday.  Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal improves to 3-2 on the year.