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Towering toward the title

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 03/16/12, 2:00PM CDT

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Height advantage helps Mountain Iron-Buhl reach Class 1A championship game for first time in school history

Mountain Iron-Buhl’s defense and depth, its calling cards all season, were never more important than in the Rangers’ 49-45 victory Friday over Ada-Borup and a first-ever berth in the Class 1A title game.

The Rangers’ size advantage was on display in the first half at Target Center, albeit indirectly. With Ada-Borup concerned with stopping their two 6-footers, Allie Knuti and Kathy Ostman, lanes to the basket were frequently open. Guards Dakotah Winans, Mya Buffetta and Sarah Overbye combined for 14 points as the Rangers took a 23-15 halftime lead.

“They were worried about stopping our big players inside, so we took advantage of the openings that were left,” Rangers coach Jeff Buffetta said.

Ada-Borup coach David Smart decided at halftime that the Cougars would be in much better shape if they forced the issue a bit.
“We wanted to be more aggressive,” said Smart, who coached the Cougars to state championships in 2008 and 2009 before taking a year off in 2010. “We were looking to take the ball to the basket a little more. Try to get to the free throw line.”

As Ada-Borup attacked, the fouls on Mountain Iron-Buhl began to pile up. The Cougars reached the bonus with more than nine minutes left in the second half and ended up with 21 free throw attempts, converting 13.

Despite its dwindling lead, Mountain Iron-Buhl (31-1) never relaxed its defensive posture. The Rangers used their depth to continuously run fresh players into the game to keep the pressure on Ada-Borup’s offense. Winans was particularly effective, holding Cougars’ guard Taylor Kujava to just six points, 12 below her season average.

“She does a great job, always taking the other team’s best or second best player,” Buffetta said. “The team-effort of our defense was great.”

Winans also chipped in with 12 points of her own, including a free throw that gave the Rangers a two-possession lead with just 11.6 seconds left.

“We’re just the little school that no one expected and now we get to play for the state championship,” Winans said. “There are just no words for this.”

Three Stars

Sarah Overbye, Mountain Iron-Buhl
The highest scoring player in a very balanced offense, Overbye hit a big three pointer in the second half that helped keep her team's lead. Only a sophomore, this player may have more state tournaments in her future.

Dakotah Winans, Mountain Iron-Buhl
One of only two seniors on the Rangers varsity roster, she provided leadership that helped keep her team calm even as Ada-Borup was nipping on their heels all day. Her 12 points came up in big spots in the game and she will play in a state title game tomorrow because of it.
 
Monica Vega, Ada-Borup
Vega's 17 points only told part of the story of her performance in this game. Her ball handling and passing found open teammates throughout the game. Also only a sophomore, she is part of a young core of this Cougar team that has a bright future ahead of them. 
 
-Jake Lunemann, MN Girls Basketball Hub Staff

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