The Crookston Pirate Boys’ Basketball team played a solid all-around game and pulled away to beat the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines 77-49 in a Section 8AA matchup at the Crookston High School gymnasium.
FIRST HALF –
Wadena-Deer Creek (WDC) jumped out to an 8-2 lead to start the game, with Kobe Snyder scoring all eight Wolverine points. Crookston brought Hunter Nicholas off the bench, and he gave his team a spark by scoring a basket. A little bit later, he took charge. Crookston trailed 10-4 when Nicholas made back-to-back baskets. WDC’s Snyder answered with a three-pointer before Nicholas made another basket to get within a 13-10 deficit. After a Wolverine free throw, Tyler Michaelson scored five straight points and Everett had an offensive rebound and basket for a 17-14 lead with eight minutes left in the half. WDC battled back to take a 21-19 lead with 5:35 remaining, and Crookston dominated the rest of the half as they ended on an 18-3 run. Nicholas started the run with a three-pointer for the first seven straight points. After a WDC three-pointer, Nicholas scored in the paint, Michaelson added a basket, Reggie Winjum scored four points, and Michael Deng made a three-pointer for a 37-24 lead going into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Crookston carried the first half’s momentum into the second half as they started on an 11-2 run. Matthew Contreras made a nice runner, and after a Wolverine basket, Contreras added a three-pointer before Michaelson made back-to-back three-pointers for a 48-26 lead three minutes into the half. Crookston continued to build on the lead and had a 54-31 lead before WDC’s Noah Drange battled inside and scored four straight points, and Snyder added a basket to get within a 54-35 deficit with 11:53 remaining, forcing a Crookston time-out. The Pirates responded well after the time out as built the lead to 67-46 with four minutes left in the game. Crookston finished the game strong as Nicholas and Winjum made a basket apiece, Braydon Peterson had a great three-point play and Carter Fee made a three-pointer for a 77-46 lead. The Wolverines made a three-pointer in the final seconds and Crookston won the game 77-49.
Crookston improves to 2-3 on the year and will travel to East Grand Forks on Monday for another Section 8AA matchup. Wadena-Deer Creek drops to 3-3 on the year.
J.V. – Crookston won 44-38
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Wadena-DC | 24 | 25 | 49 |
| Crookston | 37 | 40 | 77 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebounds | Assists/steals |
| Hunter Nicholas | 29 | 6 | 2 steals |
| Tyler Michaelson | 20 | 5 | 2 steals |
| Matt Contreras | 7 | 4 | 2 steals/2 assists |
| Michael Deng | 7 | 3 | 2 steals |
| Reggie Winjum | 6 | 5 | 6 assists |
| Braydon Pederson | 3 | ||
| Carter Fee | 3 | 2 | |
| Jack Everett | 2 | 2 |
| For Wadena-Deer Creek | Points |
| Kobe Snyder | 28 |
| Leo Petrowski | 6 |
| Noah Drange | 6 |
| Samuel Church | 5 |
| Raleigh Parker | 4 |
