MIB ends Panthers Season

Scott Tohott – NSO

Photo Contributed

Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers girls’ basketball team is now just one win away from its fifth 7A title in a row after beating South Ridge, 78-38, in a semifinal game Wednesday night at Hibbing Memorial Arena.
The Rangers jumped out to a 17-0 lead over the Panthers and used their signature tough defense to make sure South Ridge didn’t get back into the contest. The Rangers full-court press and man-to-man defense forced 15 Panther turnovers in the first half alone. Fast breaks and consistent perimeter shooting expanded the lead for MI-B who were up 45-16 at the break.
The Rangers started the second half like the first with a 9-0 run to set the Panthers back on their heels again. The game’s leading scorer, guard Chelsea Mason, put in the first bucket of the half. Mason put up 22 points including four 3-pointers, which is about her norm.
South Ridge was unable to get a shot to fall and had fewer than a dozen attempts in the early minutes of the first half. Krystal Karppinen finally got South Ridge on the board at about the 13-minute mark. By then, the Rangers were firmly in control 17-2.

Mountain Iron-Buhl                               45    33 — 78
South Ridge                                                15    23 — 38

 
Mountain Iron-Buhl

Cora Peterson 6

Mary Burke 15

Macy Savela 3

Madisen Overbye 2

Chelsea Mason 22

Kianna Martinson 9

Austyn Dagen 2

Abby Schneider 6

Tatum Primeau 4

Mya Buffetta

Lissy McCulloch 2.

3-pointers:

Mason 4, Martinson, Buffetta
South Ridge :

Krystal Karppinen 9

Gracelynn Otis 2

Rileigh Port 2

Marissa Bober 2

Justice Janke 4

Celia Olesiak 3

RyAnna Anvid 7

3-pointers:

Karppinen, Janke, Olesiak