PIRATE BOYS BASKETBALL LATE SCORING DROUGHT COSTLY IN LOSS TO TRF

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team only scored two points in the final seven minutes of the game and lost to the Thief River Falls Prowlers 65-62 in a Section 8AA matchup at the Crookston High School gymnasium. 

FIRST HALF-
Crookston scored the first points of the game on a Hunter Nicholas basket, only to have Thief River Falls (TRF) answer with a basket from Caden Rose, two free throws by Caleb Rosendal, and a free throw from Bradley Peters for a 5-2 Prowler lead. Crookston’s Tyler Michaelson answered with a three-pointer before TRF’s Bridger Wilcox made a three-pointer. The teams were tied at 10-10 after a Nicholas three-pointer. TRF’s Rosendal went on a 5-0 run by himself before Crookston’s Nicholas responded with four straight points, and the Prowlers led 15-14. Thief River Falls led 20-19 with eight minutes remaining in the half when they went on a 10-2 run for a 30-21 lead with 5:30 left in the half. Crookston trailed 37-27 with 70 seconds left in the half before they finished on a five-point run with a Winjum three-pointer and two Nicholas free throws with no time of the clock. Thief River Falls took a 37-32 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF-
Crookston had an excellent start to the second half with a 10-4 run behind three-pointers from Isaac Thomforde and Nicholas and baskets from Michaelson and Reggie Winjum to take a 42-41 lead less than three minutes into the half. TRF responded with an 8-0 run Gannon Zutz basket, followed by a Bridger Wilcox three-point play and a Lucas Rantanen three-pointer for a 49-42 lead. Crookston’s Rylin Lubarski stopped the run with a three-pointer, and Winjum added a basket. After a TRF basket, the Pirate’s Nicholas scored five straight points for a 52-51 lead. After a TRF basket, Crookston’s Michaelson made a three-pointer for a 52-53. The game was tied at 55-55 before Nicholas scored two points, and Michaelson added a three-pointer. The Pirates led 60-55 with 7:08 left in the game.
Crookston’s offense went ice cold in the final seven minutes, as they only scored two points the rest of the game. Crookston led 62-60 when TRF’s Rosendahl converted a three-point play to take a 63-62 lead with 2:20 remaining. Rosendahl added two free throws with 17.6 seconds remaining for a 65-62 lead. Crookston had a chance to tie the game, but they couldn’t get a shot off, and TRF held on to win 65-62.
Crookston was outstanding from the free-throw line while making 11 of 13 attempts. TRF struggled from the line, going 12 of 23, with Rosendahl making 10 of 19 of those attempts. 

Crookston drops to 4-12 on the year and will travel to Warroad on Friday. Thief River Falls improves to 4-11 on the year. 
J.V. – TRF won 66-56   C-Squad – TRF won 55-23

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