Mountain Iron-Buhl takes out nemesis Minneota in 1A girls basketball quarterfinals

Mountain Iron-Buhl coach Jeff Buffetta finally has reason to smile. The streak is over.

The No. 1-ranked Rangers knocked off Minneota for the first time in five state tournament meetings, 65-50 in the Class 1A girls basketball quarterfinals Thursday at Maturi Pavilion.

"It's a relief," Buffetta said.

The Rangers are making their 12^th state tournament appearance in the past 13 years, finishing as the runner-up twice. They lost to Minneota 51-48 in overtime of the quarterfinals last year and 54-53 in the semifinals two years ago. They also lost to Minneota in the third-place game in 2018 and quarterfinals in 2013.

"Memories of years past creep in everybody's head," Buffetta said. "We had to stay calm."

Junior guard Jordan Zubich, committed to North Carolina for college, overcame a foul-plagued first half to provide a steadying force after halftime. She scored 12 of the Rangers' first 15 points in the second half.

The Rangers (28-3) gradually pulled away from Minneota, taking a 57-40 lead on Zubich's layup with 6 minutes, 18 seconds remaining. She finished with a game-high 25 points and five steals.

The Rangers took a 30-24 lead into the locker room at halftime, with Zubich sitting the final 3:20 with three fouls. She scored nine points in the first half.

"For some reason that has been my thing this year," Zubich said. "I get a lot of fouls in the first half."

Guards Hali Savela and Sage Ganyo picked up for Zubich, combining for 18 points in the first half. Savela finished with 19 and Ganyo 16, and Ganyo also had six assists.

"Those three set the tone," Buffetta said. "We have a nice, well-rounded team."

Senior forward Ireland Stassen kept the Vikings (21-9) afloat in the first half. She scored 12 of her 18 points then and finished with a double-double, adding 11 rebounds.