.jpg)
The Vermilion Ironhawks gave new head coach Ryan Zyla his first win during a season-opening trip to southern Minnesota.
Vermilion blew out Riverland 75-33 in Zyla’s debut on the bench with the women’s community college basketball team, but the Ironhawks ran into a buzzsaw the following afternoon.
Rochester, a national semifinalist a year ago and the top-ranked team in NJCAA Division III this year, scored 66 first-half points on the way to a 111-29 romp.
Both games were in Austin as part of the Riverland Classic.
The Ironhawks only had three wins during the entire 2022-23 campaign, and they took their first step toward topping that mark with an impressive opener.
Freshman forward Tamia Cahee scored 35 points and outscored the Blue Devils by herself, and Vermilion had tenacious halfcourt defense.
“I thought we played with great energy,” said Zyla. “We really didn’t know much about them and they didn’t know much about us. Thinking about our numbers, we scored 75 while shooting just one-for-16 from three. There was unselfishness and I think all of our starters had an assist. It was just a special night for our program.”
Vermilion put the Blue Devils away early, leading 38-15 at halftime.
The Ironhawks suited up only seven players and controlled the pace.
“We forced 44 turnovers but everything was in the half court,” said Zyla. “A little man, a little matchup zone. We just played at 100 percent and were very efficient.”
Cahee took over at times, shooting 17-for-28.
“She has the potential and can score naturally,” said Zyla. “Our girls were unselfish and got her the ball.”
Three other Ironhawks - Ny’jai Wright, Amya Yunker and Angie Schuchardt, scored 11 points each for the winners, with Schuchardt also collecting nine rebounds.
Cahee and Yunker had six steals each and Wright dished out four assists.
Vermilion had little left in the tank on Saturday against a Yellowjackets team that has national title aspirations.
“That game was not necessarily about us,” said Zyla. “Rochester has some great coaching and has some great players.”
One of them was returning All-American Macaya Copeland, who had 17 points, five assists and four steals.
The Yellowjackets’ Kara Goetzinger poured in 28 points while shooting 13for-15.
“That girl didn’t miss,” said Zyla. “I think the lesson learned is we’re trying to get better and it was awesome to get to play the number-one team in the country so early. Angie (Schuchardt) picked up two fouls within a minute and before you know it the game was over. I don’t think there was anything we could have done.”
The Ironhawks get right back on the court this weekend at a tournament hosted by NJCAA Division II school Lake Region (N.D.)
“I’ve been telling the girls that we’ll be playing some very good teams here in the first semester and this is all about us getting better,” said Zyla. “Even despite the score we did some things better in the second game than the first game. I’m excited to see where we go.”
