The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team used a strong second half to pull away from the Menagha Braves for a 52-38 victory in the first round of the Section 8AA Girls Basketball tournament at the Crookston High School gymnasium.
FIRST HALF –
The first half was a defensive battle, with only 16 points scored in the first nine minutes of the game. The teams battled back and forth early on with ties at 2, 4, and 6. Crookston separated themselves with a 6-0 run with baskets from Emma Gunderson, Isabelle Smith, and Libby Salentine for a 12-6 lead. The teams continued to battle back and forth, and Crookston led 19-13 before Menagha finished the half strong. Menagha’s Anjalie Aho and MacKenzie Anderson added baskets to get within a 19-17 deficit. Crookston’s Smith scored, and seven seconds later, Menagha added two free throws and the Pirates took a 21-19 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
When the teams met in January, Crookston used a strong second half to pull away to win, and that is exactly what they did again in the playoffs. Crookston led 24-23 when Winjum made a basket, and Borowicz made a three-pointer for a 29-23 lead.
The teams would exchange baskets for the next four minutes before the Pirates had a 36-32 lead with 11:45 remaining. Crookston’s Winjum made a three-pointer, Borowicz added a basket, and Winjum added another three-pointer for a 44-32 lead with over eight minutes remaining. Every time Menagha would score, Crookston had an answer over the final eight minutes and cruised to a 52-38 victory to advance to the Section 8AA quarter-finals.
Crookston improves to 17-10 on the year and will travel to take on the Thief River Falls Prowlers in Thief River Falls on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Menagha ends the season 16-12 on the year.
FOR DARIN ZIMMERMAN’S POST-GAME COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW –
|
|
1st
|
2nd
|
Final
|
|
Menagha
|
19 | 19 | 38 |
|
Crookston
|
21 | 31 | 52 |
|
For CROOKSTON
|
Points
|
Rebounds
|
Assists/Steals
|
| Halle Winjum | 21 | 8 | 9 assists/4 steals |
| Abby Borowicz | 20 | 9 | 3 assists |
| Libby Salentine | 4 | 3 | |
| Emma Gunderson | 2 | 4 | 2 assists |
| Isabelle Smith | 2 | 3 | 2 steals |
|
For Menagha
|
Points
|
| MacKenzie Anderson | 8 |
| Anjalie Aho | 8 |
| Janelle Hendrickson | 8 |
| Erica Tormanen | 7 |
| Taija Pinoniemi | 2 |
| Anna Pietila | 2 |
| Joie Koll | 2 |
