PIRATE GIRL’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO ROSEAU IN SECTION 8AA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team concluded a successful season that fell just short of a state tournament appearance as the Roseau Rams won their fifth straight Section 8AA title topping Crookston 73-58 in the Section 8AA championship game played at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.

In the first half, Kacie Borowicz opened the scoring with a mid-range jump shot giving Roseau a 2-0 lead. Emma Borowicz answered with a three-pointer that gave Crookston a 3-2 lead. Kacie Borowicz made her second straight basket for the Rams pushing Roseau back in front 4-3. Rachel Hefta buried a jump shot from the free-throw line reestablishing a 5-4 lead for Crookston. Kacie Borowicz scored her sixth point with a lay-up before her sister Katie Borowicz connected on a corner three-pointer pushing the Rams lead to 9-5 with 13:40 to play in the first half. Emma Borowicz buried another three-pointer for the Pirates bringing Crookston within 9-8.  Emma Waling made a pair of free throws for the Rams allowing Roseau to take an 11-8 lead. Kasey Cwikla pivoted into an open spot in the lane converting a lay-up trimming Crookston’s deficit down to 11-10. Following another Roseau basket, Gretchen Theis made a three-pointer tying the game at 13-13 before Emma Borowicz made her third three-pointer of the game giving Crookston a 16-13 lead. After Katie Borowicz scored at the rim, Danielle Boyle scored her first basket in the paint giving Crookston an 18-15 lead with 9:17 to play in the first half. Another Boyle lay-up gave Crookston a 20-17 lead. Rachel Hefta made a jump shot followed by a lay-up from Hayden Winjum put Crookston in front 24-20 with 6:18 to play in the first half.  “I thought we did some really good things in the first half,” said Pirate Coach Darin Zimmerman.  “We moved the ball well, shot the ball really well and Emma came out and shot the ball well and being up four points with six minutes left was a good place to be.”  Roseau countered with an 8-0 run including three-pointers from Katie Borowicz and Julia Braaten giving Roseau a 28-24 lead. After a Rachel Hefta free-throw, Katie Borowicz made another three-pointer for the Rams allowing Roseau to expand its lead to 31-25.  Kylie Solheim scored a lay-up bringing the Pirates back within 31-27 before Kacie Borowicz answered the lay-up at the other end followed by a free-throw from Katie Borowicz which grew Roseau’s lead to 34-27. Emma Borowicz made a jump shot bringing the Pirates back within 34-29. After a Gretchen Theis lay-up, Kacie Borowicz knocked down a jumper giving Roseau a 38-31 halftime lead.  “We had some turnovers late in the half and we were playing a little too fast and Roseau took advantage of it,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Roseau made some nice plays and we didn’t take away the middle.”

Katie Borowicz opened the second half with a steal and lay-up expanding Roseau’s lead to 40-31. Kacie Borowicz added a free-throw as the Rams lead grew to 41-31. Kylie Solheim scored a lay-up as Crookston trimmed their deficit down to eight before Emma Borowicz made a three-pointer allowing Crookston to pull within 41-36 with 16:15 to play. Katie Borowicz scored six straight points for Roseau to regain a 47-36 lead. Kacie Borowicz drove down the right side of the lane spinning past a defender to add to Roseau’s lead with another jump shot from the lane growing the Rams’ lead to 49-36, but Rachel Hefta scored inside at the other end as Crookston closed to within 49-38. Katie Borowicz responded right back with a lay-up pushing Roseau’s advantage to 51-38. Hayden Winjum knocked down a lay-up through a foul bringing the Pirates back within 51-40. A reverse lay-up from Kacie Borowicz reestablished the Rams’ thirteen point advantage, but Crookston worked quickly the other way allowing Hayden Winjum to score from the lane trimming Crookston’s deficit down to 53-42 with 12:02 to play. Kacie Borowicz made a pair of free-throws as Roseau’s lead grew back to 55-42. Rachel Hefta countered with a lay-up but a Julia Braaten three-pointer at the other end of the floor gave Roseau a 58-44 lead with 10:32 to play. A steal and lay-up set up by Katie Borowicz to her sister Kacie expanded the Rams’ advantage to 60-44 with 9:59 to play.  “They are two very good players,” said Pirate Coach Zimmerman, talking about the Borowicz sisters. “They are strong, aggressive and they very tough to stop.” Emma Borowicz made a pair of free-throws cutting Crookston’s deficit back down to 62-46, but Emma Waling made a lay-up at the other end as Roseau’s lead grew to 64-47. With 6:29 to play, Kylie Solheim made a three-pointer allowing Crookston to pull within 68-51. Solheim scored the Pirates’ next basket making it a 70-53 game with 5:50 to play. Kasey Cwikla added a free-throw for the Pirates as Crookston trimmed their deficit down to 70-54 with 4:04 to play. Kacie Borowicz iced the game with a lay-up off a Crookston turnover as Roseau’s lead grew to 72-54 with 1:55 to play. Gretchen Theis scored a free-throw for Crookston and off a steal, Hayden Winjum scored at the rim bringing the Pirates within 72-57 with 1:29 to play. Roseau proved too much for Crookston and showed why the Rams were the four-time defending section champions as Roseau closed out a 73-58 win.  “We have had a great stretch and we were playing our best basketball at the end of the year and I am so proud of these girls,” said Coach Zimmerman.  We are a family and the girls are so close and great kids.  The girls are hungry for next year already and now we have to work hard in the offseason.  Roseau is so good and they deserve to play at state and should do well down there.”

Crookston concludes its season as the Section 8AA runner-up with an 18-11 record and will say goodbye to seniors Rachel Hefta and Kylie Solheim.  “Kylie was such a great leader and she did whatever we needed.  She would get the ball to her teammate that had the hot hand, she would get points when we needed them and she is such a great person,” said Coach Zimmerman. “Rachel really finished her season strong and play the best basketball in the last month and a half.  She was big for us down the stretch and they are both great people, great students and have left this program in a better spot.”
Roseau improves to 28-2 and will advance to its fifth straight state tournament next week.

LISTEN TO THE POST-GAME INTERVIEWS WITH THE SENIORS BY CLICKING HERE