RED LAKE FALLS PULLS AWAY TO BEAT PIRATE GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Red Lake Falls Eagles used balanced scoring with four players in double-figures, tremendous transition scoring, and stellar defense to beat the Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team 71-62 at Robert Matzke Gymnasium in Red Lake Falls.

FIRST HALF – 
It was a back-and-forth battle for the first 18 minutes of the game, with a handful of lead changes.  Crookston would take the lead, and Halle Winjum picked up a second foul forcing Coach Darin Zimmerman to sit her.  With Winjum on the bench, Red Lake Falls went on a little run to regain the lead.  That would happen several times the rest of the half, and Red Lake Falls took a 29-26 lead into halftime.  Crookston’s Winjum had 18 of her team’s first-half points.   Brooklyn Cardinal’s 13 first-half points led Red Lake Falls.

SECOND HALF – 
Crookston knew they would be facing the stellar Red Lake Falls defense, and Tuesday night was no exception.  However, both teams opened up the scoring in the second half.  The teams continued the back-and-forth battle for a while to start the second half, and  Crookston’s Winjum picked up her fourth foul with over 12 minutes remaining.  The fourth foul changed how aggressively Winjum could play the rest of the way, and without Abby Borowicz in the lineup due to illness, the Pirates were struggling to find some offense. Red Lake Falls slowly pulled away while beating Crookston for transition baskets and layups to build a 60-49 lead after an Emma Knott baseline jump shot with 5:30 left in the game for a 60-49 lead.
Crookston’s Naomi Johnson filled in for the absence of Borowicz and made two free throws, but right after, Red Lake Falls’ Savanna Nelson scored on a transition layup to put the lead back into double-figures.
It looked like Winjum would put her team back into the game with a three-pointer with 2:30 left to get within a 64-56 deficit.   Red Lake Falls missed two free throws, but on the Pirate offensive possession, they air-balled a three-pointer, and Red Lake Falls made their free throws to solidify a 71-62 victory. 

Crookston drops to 0-2 on the year and will travel to Warroad on Friday.  Red Lake Falls improves to 2-1 on the year. 

For Crookston Coach Darin Zimmerman’s comments, click below