From left, the Broncos’ Clay Tomczak (32) dribbles inside while being guarded by Greenway’s Evan Skaar (31) in Tuesday night’s Section 7AA Tournament game in the Falls High School gym.
From right, the Vikings’ Evan Wimmer (14) shoots in the lane while being guarded by the Rangers’ Trevor Winger (5) in Thursday night’s Section 7A Tournament game at Hibbing Memorial.
The Broncos’ Alex Belanger, shown swimming the butterfly in the Feb. 12 home dual meet against Virginia, has advanced to the Section 6A championship finals at Grand Rapids in the 100-yard butterfly after placing eighth in Thursday’s preliminaries in 1 minute, 3.55 seconds.
A pair of relay teams and one individual swimmer from International Falls will be competing in Saturday’s Section 6A championship finals in Grand Rapids for the opportunity to advance to state after placing in the top eight during Thursday’s section preliminaries.
Falls freshman Alex Belanger had the eighth-fastest preliminary time in the 100-yard butterfly (1 minute, 3.55 seconds). Hibbing freshman Sam Iozzo topped the preliminaries in that event in 58.2.
Belanger joined senior Cole Tatsak, freshman John Cowman and sophomore Jared Hunter for a seventh-place preliminary finish in the 200 freestyle relay (1:44.84). Grand Rapids had the top time of 1:34.3.
Tatsak, Cowman and freshmen Joey Griffith and Tanner Sether had the eighth-fastest preliminary time in the 400 freestyle relay (4:13.57). Grand Rapids had the fastest time of 3:31.1.
Two Bronco swimmers advanced to Saturday’s consolation finals with a preliminary finish between ninth and 16th place.
Cowman placed 10th in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.13), while Belanger came in 12th in the 200 individual medley (2:26.24).
Prior to Saturday’s finals starting at 3 p.m., the preliminary diving competition begins at 11 a.m.
Individual swimmers and relays that place in the top three in the championship finals, as well as the top-four divers, will advance to the Class A State Swimming and Diving Tournament being held March 5-7 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
The top-eight finishers in the section championship finals all receive medals, while finishers in the consolation finals will also score points for their teams.
This year’s Section 6A meet includes the following nine teams: Grand Rapids, Mesabi East, Hibbing, Duluth Marshall, Virginia, Eveleth-Gilbert, Chisholm, Duluth Denfeld and the Falls.
The Broncos’ Alex Belanger, shown swimming the butterfly in the Feb. 12 home dual meet against Virginia, has advanced to the Section 6A championship finals at Grand Rapids in the 100-yard butterfly after placing eighth in Thursday’s preliminaries in 1 minute, 3.55 seconds.
The 17-year-old International Falls High School senior is a forward on the Bronco boys basketball team.
Breann Larson
The Littlefork-Big Falls girls basketball team is entering the Section 7A Tournament on a winning note following Thursday night's 61-24 home victory over Fond du Lac Ojibwe in the regular-season finale.
L-BF head coach Dan Beste said the team started out slow, but then cleaned up its game and played much better.
The Vikings, who led 30-14 at halftime, had three players end up scoring in double figures led by Breann Larson with 19 points. Kaylee Kennedy added 17 points with Emily Franz scoring 10 more.
L-BF, which improved its season record to 10-11, will open the Section 7A playoffs next Thursday in Hibbing against an opponent to be determined once the pairings are finalized.
Today’s games
Men’s basketball
RRCC vs. Minnesota West in Region 13 Tournament at Anoka-Ramsey, 11 a.m.
Boys basketball
I. Falls vs. Deer River in Section 7AA quarterfinals at Duluth Denfeld, 2:45 p.m.
Boys swimming/diving
I. Falls in Section 6A Meet at Grand Rapids, 11 a.m.
Sunday’s games
Men’s basketball
Region 13 Tournament at Anoka-Ramsey, TBD
Wednesday’s games
Women’s hockey
RRCC vs. Michigan St. at ACHA D2 National Tournament, 2:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Greenway at I. Falls in Section 7AA Tournament, 7 p.m.
