.jpg)
Riverland tourney marks the start of busy 2024-25 Ironhawk season
The basketball teams at Vermilion are traveling several hours south to get a head start on the 2024-25 season.
Both the men’s and women’s teams are in Austin, taking part in four-team tournaments hosted by Riverland.
The respective Ironhawks teams met Riverland Friday and take on Rochester Saturday.
Dawson Dickson begins his second year leading the Vermilion men’s program, and he has a virtual army of talented freshmen in the fold.
The women’s team starts anew this winter with Ryan Zyla stepping in as head coach.
Only two sophomores Roderick Dominique and Tyson Rogers - are back from a men’s team that went 9-16 last season.
Rogers averaged just over six points per contest and is the only returning player with significant experience for the Ironhawks.
But Vermilion has impressed in early-season scrimmages and top freshmen include:
• Hamsa Ali, 6-5 guard, Tempe, AZ;
• Judah Pickens, 6-2 guard, Victoria, TX;
• Rashad Gatewood, 6-2 guard, Cedar Rapids, IA:
• Avery Wells, 6-5 forward, Minneapolis;
• Jaylen Shelly, 6-1 guard, Vero Beach, FL.
The women’s team should be much improved after going 3-17 last winter, with sophomores Ce Ce Bradford and Destiny Gonzalez leading the way.
Bradford averaged about 10 points per game in 202324.
One of several key firstyear players is Tamia Cahee, a 5-10 forward from Lafayette, LA.
Both Vermilion teams will travel to North Dakota for a tournament the weekend of Nov. 8-9, while the men host Leech Lake Nov 15-16 and the annual DQ Classic Nov. 22-23. The women’s team will also have two home games as part of the DQ Classic.
