WAO PONIES DUNK AND THREE-POINT THEIR WAY TO A VICTORY OVER CROOKSTON BOYS BASKETBALL

The Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies are expected to be one of the top teams in Section 8A this year with a mixture of height, athleticism, and skill, and they showed that off in a season-opening 91-53 victory over the Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team in the season opener for both teams at the Crookston High School gymnasium.  Sophomore Kaden Pierce led the Ponies with 32 points.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston started the game with a Tanner Giese three-pointer for a 3-0 lead.  After a Warren-Alvarado-Oslo basket, Crookston’s Ryan Abeld answered with two free throws and a 5-2 lead one minute into the game.  WAO battled back behind five straight points from Caden Pierce while taking an 8-5 lead.  Crookston responded with another Giese three-pointer to tie the game at 8-8 with 15:45 left in the half.  At this point, things got entertaining.  WAO answered with a 9-0 run with five points from Pierce and a basket apiece from Tyson Mortimer and Jackson Woinarowicz for a 17-8 lead four minutes into the game. 
Crookston answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Gavin Winger and Abeld before a Hunter Nicholas basket to bring the Pirates within a 17-16 deficit. 
The Ponies answered with a 10-0 run behind a couple of steals for layups mixed with some free throws, and before Crookston knew it, WAO led 27-16 halfway through the half.  The Ponies had to play the final 10 minutes of the half without their 6’6 senior Woinarowicz because he picked up his third foul.
Once again, Crookston battled back as they trailed 29-18 when Winger buried a three-pointer, Giese followed with a three, and Reggie Winjum banked home a three.  The three party was complete, but Abeld finished the run with a basket to tie the game at 29 with five minutes left in the half.
WAO finished the second half on a 12-3 run led by Francis’ eight points for a 41-32 lead at halftime. The Ponies forced Crookston into 15 turnovers in the first half.

SECOND HALF –
WAO started the second half, where they finished the first.  They went on a 17-4 run to build a 58-36 lead four minutes into the half.  Three three-pointers in a row sparked the run.  Crookston finally stopped the run with a pair of Winjum free throws, only to have the Ponies respond with a Kyden Kotrba three-pointer.  WAO continued to pull away while using their stellar defense and another 15 Crookston turnovers.  One turnover led directly to a Tyson Mortimer slam dunk to help build an 87-52 lead to start running time.  Both teams went deeper into the bench in the final three minutes, and the Ponies won the game 91-53.

Crookston drops to 0-1 on the year and will travel to Pelican Rapids on Monday.  Warren-Alvarado-Oslo improves to 1-0 on the year. 

For Pony Coach Christian Erickson’s comments click below –

For Crookston Coach Greg Garmen’s comments click below – 

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