Crookston Boys Boys Basketball pulls away for a big win over Bagley

The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team used a strong transition attack and stifling defense to knock off the Bagley Flyers 80-43 Thursday evening in Bagley. Crookston had four players score in double figures in the game.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston started the scoring and ran with momentum, as they would start the game on a 8-3 run. Hunter Nicholas scored the first 5 points of the game to kick start the Pirate attack. Bagley was able to claw back and make it 8-5 with the help of a few Pirate turnovers and missed shots, but Crookston’s Tyler Michaelson knocked down a big 3 to keep the Pirates up a couple of possessions with just over 13 minutes left in the half. Crookston forced turnovers and drew fouls over the next couple of minutes, but only had two points to show for it. Bagley took a fast break home to cut the score to 14-7 with around 11 minutes remaining. A Pirate foul put the Flyers on the line moments later but they were unable to tighten the deficit. Nicholas, Reggie Winjum, and Matt Contreras all added buckets en route to a 16-4 run, which put the Pirates up 30-13 with about 6 minutes left. The Pirates started to win on the boards with Nicholas putting up points in the paint. Matt Contreras was active in transition play with two fast-break layups over the next few minutes, which helped Crookston go up 41-22. Crookston, however, was held scoreless for the final two minutes of the half. Bagley would score the final few points to cut the Pirates lead to 41-26.

SECOND HALF –
It was all Pirates in the second half, as Crookston nearly duplicated their first-half efforts. It was more of Nicholas dominating the paint, as he won the fight for rebounds and added six more points from under the rim in the opening stages of the half. In the transition game, Winjum picked up a couple steals that would lead to Pirate points. Around the halfway point in the half, Michealson hit another three to further boost Crookston’s advantage. Nicholas wanted his second three of the night moments later as he made a deep shot, but he was just inside the arc. Offensively, the Flyers had little answers for Crookston’s attack. Bagley’s Jackson Kriser, who was the Flyers most consistent source of points in the game, was held to just 4 in the second half. Crookston was able to let everyone in the game, as Jack Everitt and Carter Fee contributed points from the bench. Crookston was able to roll to an 80-43 win.

Crookston has won four games in a row and improves to 9-16 on the year and will wrap up the regular season Friday at Hallock when they take on a very good Kittson County Central Bearcat team.. Bagley ends the regular season with a 9-17 record.