Every game is important in the section tournament.
However, tonight’s first round Section 7AA opening-round contest at the Falls High Gym has a more important feel to it for Shawn Gilbert and his International Falls Broncos.
“I know they’re thinking about it and I know we’re just taking it one game at a time,” Gilbert said Monday at practice. “Focus is on one game at a time.”
The “it” his players are thinking about is the recent postseason shortcomings for the Broncos. In the previous four section tournaments under Gilbert, the Broncos are 0-4 in the first round, including an upset by Mesabi East last season at the Falls High Gym.
The Broncos haven’t won in the postseason since a magical run to the section final in 2005 — the year before Gilbert took over.
“We’re not going to make that mistake this year hopefully,” Gilbert said. “We want to make it to Duluth of course, but we can’t do that without a win Wednesday against Greenway.”
The third-seeded Broncos (11-15) clash with the sixth-seeded Raiders (5-16) tonight at 7 p.m. The Falls defeated Greenway 55-42 back on Feb. 11.
“Some games we play really well and some games we don’t. Inconsistencies have been the key word,” Gilbert said.
International Falls’ biggest win of the year came against Virginia, which allowed them to finish second in the Iron Range Conference behind Hibbing at 5-2. The Broncos also played well in losses to Crosby-Ironton and Hibbing, but were much too inconsistent for Gilbert to be satisfied.
His team started the season 3-9 and went 8-4 through the middle of the schedule before losing the final two games.
The Broncos haven’t lost to Greenway since 2005, but that isn’t making Gilbert any more comfortable.
“Hopefully we’re not overconfident, but I think we’ll play really well against Greenway,” he said.
“And then Two Harbors will be a tough game for us if we make it that far.”
Broncos fall in regular-season finale
Cloquet was too strong Friday for International Falls in the Broncos’ regular-season finale.
International Falls lost 65-41 at the Falls High Gym.
Sophie Fredrickson scored a team-high 10 points for the Broncos, while Olivia King added eight points. Heaven Grinsell and Hanna Heibel chipped in with seven points apiece.
