Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls Basketball Begins State Title Defense

Finished 30-3 in 2022-23, won Class A State Championship over BOLD

November 17, 2023

Ben Burns,

MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn.- Eight months ago, the Mountain Iron-Buhl girls basketball team won their first Class A state championship in a 31-point rout over BOLD. If recent history repeats itself, the Rangers will be the favorites to repeat this season.

Since 2007, there have been five Class A basketball teams that have won back-to-back state championships (Minneota, Goodhue, Maranatha, Ada-Borup and Fulda). After 13 state tournament appearances, the Rangers were finally able to take home the hardware with a 30-3 record in 2022-23. Now with his team back in the gym, Head Coach Jeff Buffetta isn’t worried about Mountain Iron-Buhl getting complacent in their title defense.

“We’ve been hungry to get a state title for how many years and now that we have it, I think they’re excited to get back after it again,” says Buffetta. “But we can’t lose sight of how much work it actually takes to get it done. With the strength of our schedule, we’re definitely going to have to be prepared every night, so I think we just got to stick to our routine and have good things happen, hopefully.”

On the court, the Rangers are led by Jordan Zubich — who will play for the University of North Carolina next season — and Hali Savela — who has committed to the Unversity of Jamestown. Both seniors know they have the tolls to win another state title as long as they stay focused and play to their strengths.

“I think we just have to take it one game at a time,” says Zubich, who averaged 26.5 points per game last season. “I think even last year, watching a lot of the top teams lose in their section games, or even in the quarterfinals, so just preparing and being really determined to do what we need to do…Because if we play as ourselves, I like our odds.”

“I think we’re going to be really strong with only losing one senior.” Explained Savela, who scored 15.8 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and compiled a .481 three-point shot average. “We have the same goals again, and we have the same team. We’re going to shoot, we’re going to run a fast-paced game, and I think it’s going to be really fun.”

Mountain Iron-Buhl’s regular season begins on Friday, November 24 against Holy Angels in the St. Thomas Academy Thanksgiving Tip-Off. The Rangers will play in their home opener on Tuesday, November 28 against Mesabi East.