PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL COMES UP SHORT AT WADENA-DEER CREEK

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team led by one point with five minutes left, but couldn’t hold on as the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines won the game 64-59 in a Section 8AA game played at Wadena-Deer Creek High School.

FIRST HALF-
The first half was an exciting back-and-forth battle as Wadena-Deer Creek (WDC) made two free throws over two minutes into the game for the first points. Crookston responded almost two minutes later with a Tyler Michaelson three-pointer for a 3-2 Pirate lead. WDC built a 5-3 lead before Crookston responded with another Michaelson three-pointer and a Reggie Winjum basket for an 8-6 lead. The game remained close, and Crookston led 18-17 with 5:24 left in the half when they caught fire from three-point land. Jack Everett made a three-pointer followed by Rylan Lubarski for a 24-17 lead. After two WDC baskets, Everett made a three before WDC got a basket, only to be followed by a Lubarski three-pointer for a 30-23 lead with two minutes remaining. WDC finished the half on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 30-30 going into halftime.

SECOND HALF-
Crookston started the second half with a basket from Winjum before WDC responded with eight straight points for a 38-32 lead three minutes into the half. Crookston battled back with an 8-2 run, with Winjum, Lubarski, Isaac Thomforde, and Nicholas scoring baskets to tie the game at 40-40. The teams were also tied at 45, 47, and 49. Crookston took a 52-51 lead after a Michaelson three-pointer with 5:23 remaining. WDC outscored Crookston 11-2 over the next four minutes to take a 60-53 lead. Trailing 62-54, Crookston’s Nicholas made a basket and Thomforde made three-pointer to bring the Pirates within a 62-59 deficit with 13 seconds to go. WDC was fouled and made both free throws and won 64-59.

Crookston drops to 4-15 on the year and will host Stephen-Argyle on Monday. Wadena-Deer Creek improves to 14-6.
J.V. – Crookston won 48-33   C-Squad – Crookston won 40-34

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