PIRATE GIRLS BASKETBALL BEATS GRAFTON IN A THRILLER

The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team hit two free throws in the final two minutes, but more importantly, played lockdown defense and didn’t allow a point in the final minutes to beat the Grafton Spoilers 54-52 in a game played in Crookston.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston had a great start to the game by going on an 11-3 run with six points from Halle Winjum, a three-pointer from Isabelle Smith, and a basket from Joey Nesseth on a beautiful assist from Winjum.
Grafton settled in and responded with a 12-4 run to tie the game at 15-15 with over seven minutes left in the half.  Grafton took its first lead of the game seconds later with a pair of free throws from 6’1 senior post Kiera Cole for a 17-15 lead.  Crookston’s Abby Borowicz tied the game at 17-17 with two free throws before Grafton responded with an 8-2 run for a 25-19 lead with two minutes left in the half.
Crookston finished the half strong with a Winjum basket.  After a Grafton basket in the paint, Borowicz scored the final five points of the half, including a three-pointer right before the buzzer, and Grafton took a 27-26 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
Crookston’s Borowicz kept her run going with the first basket of the second half to give the Pirates a 28-27 lead. The teams would exchange the lead six times in a five-minute span, and Crookston took a 40-37 lead after a Chloe Boll three-pointer with 10:38 remaining.  Grafton responded with an 8-0 run for a 45-40 lead.  Crookston slowly chipped away at the deficit and took the lead with two Libby Salentine free throws and a three-pointer from Borowicz for a 49-48 lead with 3:15 to go.
Grafton regained the lead with two free throws before Winjum answered with a three-pointer from the top of the key for a 52-50 lead.  Grafton tied the game with two more free throws with 2:01 remaining.
Nobody scored for the next 80-plus seconds until Crookston’s Salentine grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on the shot attempt.  She made one free throw for a 53-52 lead with 32 seconds left in the game.  Crookston’s defense was stellar in the final two minutes of the game as they forced a Grafton turnover and inbounded the ball to Winjum, who was fouled right away.  Winjum hit the front end of the bonus for a 54-52 lead with 11.8 seconds left.  Grafton came down the floor and tried a three-pointer with two seconds left, but Winjum partially blocked the shot, and Crookston held on for a 54-52 victory.

Crookston improves to 13-8 on the year and will travel to Pelican Rapids to take on the Vikings on Monday night, a game you can hear on KROX RADIO.  
Grafton drops to 13-6 on the year.

FOR COACH DARIN ZIMMERMAN’S POST-GAME COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW-