WALDAL AND TRF GIRLS BASKETBALL TOO MUCH FOR CROOKSTON

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Basketball team struggled shooting throughout the game and Thief River Falls went inside to its outstanding sophomore post player, Avha Waldal who scored 23 points to lead the Prowlers to a 48-36 victory in a Section 8AA game played in Thief River Falls. 

FIRST HALF –

Thief River Falls started the game strong, with sophomore post Ava Waldal scoring the first four points of the game.  Crookston responded with a 5-0 run with a Halle Winjum basket and an Abby Borowicz three-pointer for a 5-4 lead three minutes into the game.
TRF scored the next basket as Maren Espe gave the Prowlers a 6-5 lead, only to have Crookston respond with two Borowicz free throws and a nice post-up and basket by Naomi Johnson for a 9-6 lead.  The Prowlers tied the game 9 and 11 before Crookston’s Libby Salentine made a free throw for a 12-11 lead with 10:40 left in the half.
TRF went on a 7-0 run with Waldal, Breanna Meyers, and Josie Peterson scoring for an 18-12 lead.  The Prowlers would continue to control the rest of the half and took a 26-18 lead into halftime. 

SECOND HALF – 
Thief River Falls built a 32-22 lead over three minutes into the half before Crookston’s Halle Winjum started to heat up with a three-pointer and a free throw to bring the Pirates within a 32-26 deficit. 
TRF built their lead back up to 10 points with back-to-back baskets from Waldal for a 36-26 with 11:41 left in the game.  Crookston answered with a 7-0 run with Winjum and Chloe Boll scoring baskets, while Isabelle Smith made a three-pointer to get within a 36-33 deficit halfway through the half. Thief River Falls dominated the final nine minutes of the game and outscored Crookston 12-3 in the final eight minutes of the game to hold on to a 48-36 victory.  

Crookston drops to 8-6 on the year and will be off until next Tuesday.  Thief River Falls improves to 10-4 on the year.

FOR COACH ZIMMERMAN’S POSTGAME COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW