’Hawks hopes hang on a thread

After a string of heartwrenching defeats, there’s no margin for error for the Vermilion Ironhawks.

In fact, they need some help.

Not only must Vermilion win today’s regular season finale at Mesabi to keep its playoff hopes alive, but the community college men’s basketball team also needs Hibbing to upset Itasca.

If both occur, Vermilion and Itasca would square off Monday night in Ely for a spot in next weekend’s regional playoffs.

That’s the tough spot facing the Ironhawks after Saturday’s 93-91 loss at Hibbing. Vermilion bounced back with a nonconference, 88-64 home victory over Gogebic Wednesday, but now everything rides on Saturday and a bid for an upset.

The Ironhawks are 4-7 in division play and in fifth place, a game behind fourthplace Itasca.

It was the loss at Hibbing, as well as an overtime defeat at Itasca a week earlier, that put the Ironhawks in this difficult predicament.

• The home finale served as a bit of a tune-up for the Ironhawks, who played without leading scorer Quyavant Douglas but still rolled past Gogebic.

Vermilion built a 50-30 lead by halftime and cruised from there, as four players, led by Davonte Davis with 19 points, scored in double figures.

Davis also had nine rebounds while Ante Acosta and Elijay Gayle finished with 12 points apiece and Jaden Moore came off the bench to add 11.

• Despite 32 points by Douglas, Vermilion came up short at Hibbing in a loss that dampened the team’s playoff hopes.

Vermilion struggled from the three-point arc (seven- for-27) and was outrebounded 40-27 by the host Cardinals.

Douglas had eight rebounds to go with his points, while Vermilion’s Rashad Jalloh contributed 19 points and seven rebounds.

D’Andre White added 14 points and Gayle was next with 11 for Vermilion.

Hibbing’s Jalen Thorns scored 27 points to pace the winners.