Imhof finishes 1-point shy of triple-double
LITTLEFORK — Kari Imhof nearly posted the Borderland area’s first triple-double this season Thursday, but it wasn’t close to enough in International Falls’ 53-30 victory over the Vikings.
Imhof was one point shy of the mark, posting nine points. She grabbed a game-high 24 rebounds and swiped a career-high 11 steals. The 11 steals were part of a turnover-palooza for both teams. L-BF had 51 turnovers to the Broncos’ 31, according to KSDM color analyst Timm Ringhofer.
“It’s our turnovers and running our offense,” Vikings head coach Lisa Lehman said about her team’s biggest problems. “Every time we brought it down it felt like we turned it over.”
Haylee Gates scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Rachael VanDrunen had four points, four steals and four rebounds for the Vikings (1-11).
The Broncos (6-10), winners in three out of four, got a game-high 19 points from Reva Renollet and nine points from Hanna Heibel. The Foss sisters — Rachel and Kelsey — tallied seven points apiece. It was Rachel’s first start of the season.
“It’s always good against them because they come out wanting to beat us,” Heibel said. “It’s their best game of the year. Come out for blood pretty much.”
The rivalry stayed close in the first half with the Broncos holding a 26-17 lead at the break, but International Falls’ regulars took control early in the second half.
It took the Vikings nearly four minutes to score in the second half, and by that time it was 36-19. The Broncos opened the second half with a 10-0 run.
“It was just not running our offense and giving up a little on defense,” Lehman said about the struggles early in the second half.
Heibel was never worried about the outcome.
“We could be really good. We have a lot of talent,” the sophomore said. “We’ve just been struggling a lot.”
The Broncos return to action tonight in a make-up game at Lake of the Woods, while the Vikings host the Bears in their next bit of action Monday.
Game notes
• With the win, the Broncos improve to 41-10 all time against L-BF. Broncos head coach Shawn Gilbert’s record against the Vikings improves to 5-4. The two teams square off again Feb. 16 at Falls High School.
• L-BF shot just 11 of 30 from the free-throw line (4 of 14 in the first half), while the Falls finished 14 of 21 (8 of 12 in the first half). FHS senior Heaven Grinsell was the only player to foul out.
• L-BF senior Hannah Hell didn’t suit up for the game due to an ankle injury and her status for the remainder for the season in unknown.
• Fans were treated to first-, second- and third-grade girls playing basketball during halftime entertainment.
