Shorthanded Broncos play tough without four regulars
The effort was back on Thursday night, but now the Broncos just need a full roster.
Thanks to some strong performances by role players and junior varsity players thrown into an unfortunate situation Thursday, International Falls (6-8) nearly pulled off a gutsy victory against Eveleth-Gilbert at the Falls High Gym.
The Golden Bears (8-7) edged the Broncos 55-52, but International Falls played without four varsity regulars, including three starters, while dressing only eight players.
“Everybody played with a lot of energy,” Broncos head coach Shawn Gilbert said. “It’s nice to watch when everyone is hustling and everyone is busting their butts.”
Jenna Vergeldt scored a game-high 27 points for the International Falls, while Sara Christianson and Rachel Foss chipped in with six points apiece.
Megan Vidas led the Golden Bears with 19 points and nine steals. Megan Preiner added 18 points and Emily Grummett had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Neither team led by more than five in the second half.
Vergeldt made two free throws to cut the deficit to 53-52 with 36 seconds remaining, but the Golden Bears answered when Christy Peterson sank two free throws on the ensuing possession. Lexi Owen, playing in her first varsity game, missed the front end of a one-and-one with 21 seconds left, and the Broncos didn’t foul the Golden Bears until it was too late.
With most of the home crowd, including both Broncos coaches, hollering to foul, Eveleth-Gilbert was able to work it around until there was 1 second left. Peterson missed both free throws to end the game.
The Broncos played without varsity regulars Reva Renollet, Sophie Fredrickson, Hanna Heibel and Olivia Santee, who all sat behind the Broncos bench in street clothes cheering on their teammates during the game. Renollet, Fredrickson and Heibel are starters.
Asked why they were out, and Heibel said they broke a school rule and would miss only Thursday’s game. Both FHS athletic/activities director Don Rolando and Gilbert refused to talk about the issue afterwards, due to confidentiality laws.
Out of the eight players eligible on Gilbert’s bench, only six played — Foss, Christianson, Vergeldt, Morgan Bruess, Anah Schwartz and Owen. Junior varsity players Kendra Ysen and Zoe Blumhardt didn’t get in the game. Bruess, Christianson, Schwartz and Owen also played a quarter in the junior varsity game.
