PIRATE GIRLS BASKETBALL SAIL TO VICTORY OVER WARROAD

The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team scored 45 first-half points and wend deep to the bench for most of the second half and cruised to a 66-39 victory in a Section 8AA matchup with Warroad at the Crookston High School gymnasium.
Warroad took a 3-2 lead 93 seconds into the game, but Crookston responded with a 17-0 run for a 19-3 lead over six minutes into the game.  In the run, Crookston had Dani Boyle score seven straight points, Rachel Hefta added four points, Emma Borowicz had a three-point play and Hayden Winjum made a three-pointer.  Crookston continued to force Warroad into turnover after turnover and continued to pull away for a 45-14 lead at halftime. “It was a really good first half for us tonight,” said Pirate Coach Darrin Zimmerman. “Defensively we were able to set the tone and we were able to force some turnovers.  Offensively, we weren’t perfect, but we did some nice things and worked together well.”
Crookston started the second half on an 11-0 run with Boyle scoring six points, Kasey Cwikla with a three-point play and Gretchen Theis adding a basket for a 56-14 lead less than four minutes into the half.  Crookston decided to go to the bench and they kept the starters out for the rest of the game.  Most of the bench players had at least 10 minutes of playing time in the second half and Crookston held on for the 66-39 victory.  “We always talk about playing a full 36 minutes and we didn’t give up a lot of second-chance points,” said Coach Zimmerman. “The bench players are the future of Pirate basketball and they were able to play against some size and I thought they did a great job.”
Crookston improves to 4-0 on the year and will host East Grand Forks on Tuesday for another Section 8AA matchup.  Warroad drops to 0-4 on the year.

Dani Boyle looks to pass to a teammate   Emma Borowicz with a layup

Rachel Hefta swoops in for a layup