.jpg)
by Tom Coombe
After being nearly knocked out, the Vermilion Ironhawks climbed off the canvas, scratched and clawed their way back into contention, and simply would not be denied.
Facing a “win or go home,” scenario Saturday, the community college men’s basketball team won a war of attrition and pulled out a 78-74 win over visiting Mesabi inside a raucous Vermilion gymnasium.
The Ironhawks won for the fifth time in seven games and secured the program’s first regional playoff berth in seven years.
Vermilion, now 6-18 after a 1-16 start, was set to take on nationally-rated Riverland Friday in a regional quarterfinal game at Coon Rapids.
It took both a remarkable turnaround down the home stretch, and a willful performance Saturday, for the Ironhawks to advance.
The matchup with Mesabi included numerous lead changes and several ties, and the Ironhawks scored the last five points in the final minute - all at the free throw line.
Rashad Gatewood, who led the Ironhawks with 23 points, sank two free throws with a minute left to break a 73-all deadlock, and Judah Pickens went two-for-two with five seconds left to ice the win.
The Norse misfired on a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, and the Ironhawks also forced a held ball on a drive to the basket with about 20 seconds to go.
“It was the definition of a dogfight,” said Vermilion Head Coach Dawson Dickson. “It was extremely, extremely physical. We only played seven players and all five starters played extensive minutes and did an incredible job. Everybody played their role and bought into the game plan.”
Vermilion went on a late run to build a 38-30 lead at the half, but Mesabi battled back in the second stanza, as KeyVaughn Fields scored 26 points.
Tristan Coleman added 13 points and Jayden Coney was next with 12 for the Norse.
Sophomore Roderick Dominique scored 16 points for the Ironhawks while Mudia Gbowa secured a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Judah Pickens was next with nine points and Jaylen Shelly came off the bench to add seven for the Ironhawks. Gbowa also dished out seven assists.
Vermilion was backed by a loud student section that added a playoff-like atmosphere in the gymnasium.
“We talked about the play calls we have and hand signals and I had guys squinting at me as they couldn’t hear what I was saying,” said Dickson.
The Ironhawks are in the role of underdog at the regionals, taking on a Riverland team that beat them twice, handily, during the regular season.
“They have a great team,” said Dickson. “Their kids play extremely hard and there’s a reason their team is number-eight in the country.”
But this Vermilion group is a testament to resiliency and not one to be taken lightly despite its record.
“You can point the finger at me as I had us playing nationally ranked opponents and scholarship opponents in the first semester,” said Dickson. “Now it’s kind of funny as time moves forward, our kids realize why I scheduled the way we did. We’ve played six of the other seven teams in the regional.”
The Ironhawks are also playoff-tested.
“After we started 0-5 in the division we had to change our mindset and every game was like a playoff game,” said Dickson. “Out of the five wins we had in conference play, all came down to one or two possessions.”
