Falls ends season 18-9
After trailing at halftime by double digits, International Falls’ boys basketball team came as close as three points in the second half before losing to Deer River, 68-61, in Saturday’s Section 7AA Tournament quarterfinal game at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
The tournament outcome ending Falls’ season had similarities to the March 2 regular season finale between the two teams when the Broncos also fell behind by double digits in the first half and ended up losing after making the game close.
Falls head coach Derek Dowty said Saturday’s tournament game seemed to follow a pattern this season of the Broncos not playing their best basketball until falling behind by double digits.
After a field goal from Falls freshman center Ben Humbert pulled the Broncos within two, 12-10, the Warriors went on a 9-0 scoring run to take their first double-digit lead.
Deer River applied full-court pressure defense to force the Falls into committing turnovers. The Warriors’ Damon Benham made several layups off of the Broncos’ ball-handling errors as he scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the first half.
“I think their speed has a lot to do with it,” Dowty said. “They’re a very, very good team.”
Deer River, which didn’t make any 3-point baskets, was able to work the ball inside to 6-7 senior center Noah Kaczor, who added 16 points.
The Falls, which trailed 41-29 at halftime, whittled away at the Warriors’ lead in the second half.
The Broncos dominated for about the first 10 minutes of the second half as Gunnar Anderson made a 3-pointer following a Deer River turnover to pull the Falls within three, 55-52.
The Warriors led by four with just over a minute to play, but the Broncos couldn’t get closer as they failed to score following a missed free throw from Deer River’s Henry Hellmann.
Three Falls players ended up in double figures led by Humbert with 19 points, followed by Anderson with 15 and Josh Owen with 12.
The Broncos, who closed out the season 18-9, will be losing four forwards — Owen, Andre McMillion, Forrest Arch and John Bartkowski — and two guards — Matt Buhl and Tyler House — to graduation.
“It’s always tough losing a good group of seniors,” Dowty said.
Deer River 68, I. Falls 61
I. Falls 29 32 — 61
Deer River 41 27 — 68
I. Falls: Andre McMillion 7, John Bartkowski 4, Gunnar Anderson 15, Ben Humbert 19, Josh Owen 12, Forrest Arch 4. 3-pointers: Anderson 2, McMillion, Humbert. Free throws: 9-14. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: Buhl.
Deer River: Nick Schimek 2, Henry Hellmann 9, Damon Benham 22, August Marleau 3, Jack Carter 2, Eythan Stangland 14, Nick Kaczor 16. Free throws: 13-28. Fouls: 16.
