Ben
Humbert
January has been a good month for the International Falls boys basketball team.
Not only have the Broncos won all eight of their games this month, the team also clinched the Iron Range Conference title and had a player reach a new scoring plateau in the process.
The Falls trailed by two points at halftime Tuesday night when the team pulled in front by double digits in the second half and held on to win at Virginia, 50-44, and wrap up the IRC title with a conference record of 9-1.
Broncos head coach Derek Dowty said the Falls got off to a slow start, but was able to pull out a win at the end, the second victory this season over the Blue Devils.
“We knew it was going to be a completely different game at their place,” said Dowty, who noted Virginia had senior forward Ryan Cunningham back in the lineup after he didn’t play when FHS hosted the first game.
The Broncos had only one player score in double figures with Ben Humbert recording a double-double with 25 points and 19 rebounds.
The Falls scored close to half of its points from the free-throw line after going 23-29 from the charity stripe.
FALLS 67, WARROAD 48
The Broncos trailed by a point at halftime Thursday night when they rallied in the second half to win at Warroad, 67-48.
“We didn’t really come ready to play,” said Dowty, who also noted Warroad has been “a tough place to play” for the Falls.
Humbert, who already was Falls’ all-time scoring leader, entered the game needing 15 points to become the Broncos’ first player to score 2,000 career points. He reached that milestone in the first half and ended up as the Broncos’ only player to score in double figures for the game with 33 points.
The Broncos’ season record now stands at 15-4 overall going into next Tuesday night’s road game against Crosby-Ironton.
Ben
Humbert
From right, the Broncos’ Bianca Carlson (15) shoots in the lane past Deer River’s Lucy Kaczor (53) in Tuesday night’s game in the Falls High School gym.
The 17-year-old International Falls High School senior is a forward on the Bronco boys hockey team.
From right, the Broncos’ Janet Humbert (25) dribbles past Mesabi East’s Alyssa Belange (5) in Thursday night’s game in the Falls High School gym.
At center, the Broncos’ Brett Lindvall (3) lands on the ice between Hibbing/Chisholm goalie Isiah Dilley (31) at left and defenseman Scott Perunovich (7) at right in Thursday night’s game at Bronco Arena.
From right, the Broncos’ Chase Bernard (8) advances the puck while being pursued by North Shore’s Quaid Cavallin (6) in Tuesday night’s game at Bronco Arena.
Rylan Henrickson
The Littlefork-Big Falls boys basketball team found it rough on the road this week where the Vikings lost a pair of road games.
An opponent L-BF won against by three points at home to start the season defeated the Vikings by 28 points Tuesday night.
L-BF trailed by 17 points at halftime and lost on the road to Northome/Kelliher, 95-67
“We didn't rebound well – a lot of second-chance opportunities for Northome,” said Vikings head coach Jeff Maish.
Rylan Henrickson led four L-BF players scoring in double figures with 19 points. Zach Simon added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Evan Wimmer had 11 points with Peter Franz scoring 10 more.
The Vikings also fell Thursday night at Hill City, 71-60, after trailing by four points at halftime.
Maish said rebounding again hurt L-BF, which had a one-point lead with about 5:30 left in the game before fouls did in the Vikings.
L-BF had four players score in double figures against Hill City led by Simon with 17 points, followed by Tommy Manninen with 16, Henrickson with 11 and Bobst with 10.
The two road losses dropped the Vikings' season record to 5-11 going into Friday's home game against Ely.
Today’s games
Women’s/men’s basketball
Central Lakes at RRCC, 1/3 p.m.
Girls hockey
LPGE/WDC at I. Falls, 3 p.m.
Boys hockey
I. Falls at Kittson Central, 3 p.m.
Women’s hockey
Northern Michigan vs. RRCC at Bronco Arena, 7 p.m.
Sunday’s games
Women’s hockey
Northern Michigan vs. RRCC at Bronco Arena, noon
Monday’s games
Girls basketball
Cherry at I. Falls, 7:15 p.m.
L-BF at Kelliher/Northome, 7:15 p.m.
Boys basketball
Eveleth-Gilbert at L-BF, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday’s games
Boys basketball
I. Falls at Crosby-Ironton, 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday’s games
Women’s/men’s basketball
Itasca at RRCC, 6/8 p.m.
