Iron Range Conference Preview 2018

Let’s be honest. The Iron Range is not known for girls basketball. Mountain Iron-Buhl is known for girls basketball but that’s Mountain Iron-Buhl, that’s not the Iron Range. But, now, things look like they’ll be heating up on the Range as Hibbing, International Falls and Mesabi East all look to be capable of competing for the Iron Range Conference title. Hibbing won 7 of 8 from 2006 to 2013, then I-Falls won a pair, Mesabi East won in 2016, and Hibbing returned to the top last year. Now, Hibbing returns mighty mite Abby McDonald, still just a junior, and some nice size. I-Falls returns 10 contributors including their next star, if she wants to be, in Chloe Sullivan. Mesabi East returns sophomore guard Ava Hill and freshman guard Hannah Hannuksela. Virginia also returns seniors Lexi Ahrens, Haley Aho and Payton Wercinski, while Eveleth-Gilbert, Chisholm and Greenway will be rebuilding. Our Predictions 1. Hibbing (5-0, 1st last year) Hibbing brings back 5-6 guard Abbey McDonald, still just a junior, and her 22 ppg scoring average, and that alone is enough to make the Bluejackets the favorite to repeat at champion of the Iron Range Conference. McDonald scores in 3s, and protects and distributes the ball. She has a stratospheric basketball IQ, she’s a coach on the floor—hey, she’s a McDonald. But, there’s more, as in an athletic 6-0, 6-0, 5-10 front line. Junior forwards Elizabeth Tuomi, the 6-footer, and Mackenzie Maki, 5-10, are both strong and mobile, very tough defensively and on the boards. Tuomi is much further advanced as a basketball player—i.e. footwork and ball-handling and initial offensive moves. And then there’s 6-0 sophomore post Kourtney Manning, who is even more of a project, but also strong, mobile and athletic. Trying to score or rebound in the lane against Hibbing is going to be no rose garden. Guards Macy Peterson and Macie Pearson also return. So, there’s some depth, some size and there’s Abbey McDonald. Hibbing will be good. Unfortunately, they’re in section 7AAA in the post-season, where Grand Rapids is clearly a cut better. 2. International Falls (6-2, 2nd) I-Falls will be competitive with Hibbing. The Broncos return 10—count ‘em, 10—contributors. Guards Grace Gilbert, a junior, and Jenna Sullivan, now a senior, scored in double figures, though both saw their averages drop by 3-4 points as I-Falls went to a 12-deep rotation. The big news, however, is freshman Chloe Sullivan, who scored 8 ppg as an 8th grader, and who is also a noted middle-distance track star. One would have to assume that Janet Humbert, now a 5-9 senior, was hurt because her scoring dropped from 17 to 6 ppg, which is about what seniors Paige Heen-Taschuk, Emma Gilbert and Teah Goulet all scored, too. Of course, you can only play 5 at a time, otherwise I-Falls would be the favorite. But, they’ll also have a hard time matching Hibbing’s size as Jenna Sullivan is the Broncos’ tallest and she’s a guard. But considering Hibbing is in Class AAA and the Broncos are in AA, I-Falls has a much better shot at a state tournament berth though Esko and Pequot, as always, stand in the way. 3. Virginia (6-4, 3rd) It’s now or never. 6-1 Lexi Ahrens and point guard Haley Aho are now seniors. They scored 29 ppg between them, which is good because there’s not a lot of help otherwise. 4. Mesabi East (2-5, 6th) The Giants dropped from 6-1 (and 1st place) to 2-5 last year, but they should bounce back, mainly with the kiddie corps of guards Ava Hill, a 5-6 sophomore who scored 15.5 ppg a year ago, and freshman Hannah Hannuksela, who scored 14. And there’s help from seniors Hope Howell and Isabelle Kalb and juniors Emily Reid and Emily Undeland. Kalb and Reid also provide some size, so this is a nicely balanced roster and a solid team. 5. Eveleth-Gilbert (3-4, 4th) The Golden Bears haven’t won the conference since 2008, and they won’t do it this year after losing last year’s seniors McKenzie Perushek and Cora Delich. Juniors Avery Straughter, Ms. Inside, and Audrey Delich, Ms. Outside, return, but that’s not enough. 6. Chisholm (2-3, 5th) Chisholm returns senior Tessa Yaroszak, a 5-8 do-everything player who scored 11 ppg with 4 boards last year. Classmates Kaitlyn Larson, Adeline Barto and Alex Whitlock also return, but they’re 5-4, 5-3 and 5-3, so you can figure the Bluestreaks will be giving up size pretty much every night. 7. Greenway (0-7, 7th) The Raiders are 1-48 over the past 7 seasons. There is hope for the future but 2018 is not the future. 8th grader Jackie Savile, and freshmen Emma Murphy and Baylie Norris will lead a renaissance someday. All-Iron Range Center—Avery Straughter, Eveleth-Gilbert, 5-11, junior, 11 ppg Power Forward—Lexi Ahrens, Virginia, 6-1, senior, 17 ppg Small Forward—Tessa Yaroszak, Chisholm, 5-8, senior, 11 ppg-4 reb Point Guard—Ava Hill, Mesabi East, 5-6, sophomore, 15.5 ppg Shooting Guard—Abbey McDonald, Hibbing, 5-6, junior, 22 ppg Second Team Center—Isabelle Kalb, Mesabi East, senior, 8 ppg Power Forward—Lizzy Tuomi, Hibbing, 6-0, junior, 9.5 ppg Small Forward—Hope Howell, Mesabi East, 5-8, senior, 9 ppg Point Guard—Grace Gilbert, International Falls, 5-6, junior, 12 ppg Shooting Guard—Jenna Sullivan, International Falls, 5-10, senior, 11 ppg Third Team Center—Paige Heen-Taschuk, International Falls, 5-9, senior, 6 ppg Power Forward—Mackenzie Maki, Hibbing, 5-10, junior, 7 ppg Small Forward—Janet Humbert, International Falls, 5-9, senior, 6 ppg Point Guard—Haley Aho, Virginia, 5-3, senior, 12 ppg Shooting Guard—Adeline Barto, Chisholm, 5-3, senior, 7 ppg Stock Risers Center—Kourtney Manning, Hibbing, 6-0, sophomore Forward—Jackie Saville, Greenway, 8th, 6 pp Point Guard—Hannah Hannuksela, Mesabi East, freshman, 14 ppg Combo Guard—Emma Murphy and Baylie Norris, Greenway, freshmen, 5 ppg Shooting Guard—Chloe Sullivan, International Falls, freshman, 8 ppg