Virginia at Mountain Iron-Buhl
7:15 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20
After Jaylon Holmes’ buzzer beater thwarted a Virginia rally and clinched a 64-62 win for Mountain Iron-Buhl a season ago, expect these Mesabi Range schools separated by five miles to pack the Rangers’ gym for this rematch.
Holmes opened this season with a 39-point performance in a 98-90 overtime win over Eveleth-Gilbert on Dec. 6. He followed that with a 27-point outing against Littlefork-Big Falls a week later.
Teammate Joe Buffetta has averaged 16.5 ppg.
Recent Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Rich Odell, has the Blue Devils (6-0) well on their way to their 10th consecutive 20-win season.
Six-foot-7 center Ethan Yousu posted a team-high 23 points in Mountain Iron-Buhl's 86-45 win over Mesabi East on Dec. 13, while Drew Aho led Virginia with 15 points and seven assists in a 76-37 romping of Chisholm last Thursday.
The Blue Devils have a size advantage over most its competition, but the Rangers’ speed and shooting touch could get the best of them again.