Quantcast
skip navigation

Minneota rallies late to defeat Mountain Iron-Buhl and reach 1A title game

By JOEL RIPPEL, Star Tribune, 04/06/21, 1:45PM CDT

Share

The Vikings trailed much of the game but a 7-0 run, capped by an Abby Hennen free throw with 2.1 seconds left, gave them a 54-53 victory.


Minneota's Abby Rost went to the basket between Mountain Iron-Buhl's Ava Butler, left, and Lauren Maki, during the first half of the game on Tuesday. Photo:] ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com

Abby Hennen and Natalee Rolbiecki combined to rescue Minneota on Tuesday.

Hennen, a 5-9 senior guard playing in her fourth state tournament, and Rolbiecki, a 5-11 junior forward, combined for all but three of Minneota’s second-half points as the Vikings rallied late for a 54-53 victory over Mountain Iron-Buhl in a Class 1A semifinal at Target Center.

Hennen’s free throw with 2.1 seconds left capped a game-ending 7-0 run for the Vikings (24-0), who trailed 53-47 with 2:30 left.

Hennen’s free throw came after Minneota got the ball back with six seconds left. After a timeout, Hennen got the ball at midcourt and drove to the basket and was fouled. She missed the first throw but, after a timeout, converted the second.

“I told our team at halftime that we needed people to step up,” Minneota coach Chad Johnston said. “You have to give credit to (Hennen and Rolbiecki) for stepping up.”

First report

Abby Hennen's free throw with 2.1 seconds left lifted Minneota to a 54-53 victory over Mountain Iron-Buhl in a Class 1A semifinal on Tuesday at Target Center.

Hennen's free throw came after Minneota got the ball back with six seconds left. After a timeout, Hennen got the ball at mid-court and drove to the basket and was fouled. She missed the first throw but, after a timeout, converted the second.

The free throw capped a game-ending 7-0 run for the Vikings (24-0), who trailed by six, 53-47, with 2:30 left.

Hennen finished with 19 points -- 15 in the second half -- to lead the Vikings. Natalee Rolbiecki added 18 for the Vikings, who trailed by three at halftime.

Freshman Jordan Zubich scored 14 to lead the Rangers.

Check back later for more on the game.

Girls Basketball Hub Headlines