DULUTH - The stage was set for a dramatic finish.

One-point game. Fierce rivals. Finals rematch.

North Woods didn’t need the drama, though. It just needed the championship.

With an electric second-half performance, the top-seeded Grizzlies pulled away from second-seeded Mountain Iron-Buhl in Friday’s Section 7A championship, earning a 70-55 victory and the first trip to state in team history.

The first half went back and forth, with both teams managing the early nerves while the game remained close.

The Grizzlies pushed their lead to 24-18 with four minutes remaining in the half, but the Rangers whittled the gap to a point in the final minute.

A jumper by senior George Bibeau and a pair of free throws by sophomore Cade Goggleye extended the North Woods lead to 30-25 at the break, putting the team 18 minutes from history.

Mountain Iron-Buhl would gain the early momentum to start the second half, knocking down a pair of baskets to close the margin to 30-29, seemingly setting the stage for a nail-biting conclusion.

But then the Grizzlies took over.

Junior Brendan Parson drained a three-pointer, one of six he hit on the night, to make it 33-29, then Bibeau sank a put-back shot to extend it to 35-29.

Mountain Iron-Buhl quickly called timeout, but could not slow down the Grizzlies’ attack.

Bibeau hit another two baskets and Parson put in two more threes as the lead swelled to 49-34.

The Rangers would prove unable to string more than two baskets together without a score from the Grizzlies the rest of the way, never mounting a serious challenge or pulling within single digits as an overpowering North Woods closed out the win.

“I knew coming into this game that the team was ready to play,” North Woods head coach Will Kleppe said. “MIB is a very talented and well-coached team, so I expected them to be ready also. We wanted to match their intensity, weather their runs during the game and be ready to finish. I feel our team played very well. I knew they were up for the challenge.

“The team kept its composure and stayed aggressive when MIB made their run after halftime. I knew this team was going to respond.”

Parson finished 6-of-9 from three-point range and Bibeau was 9-of-14 from the field, both finishing with 21 points.

Goggleye added a trio of threes in scoring 14 points, while also distributing seven assists.

“Cade is unshakable,” Kleppe said. “We know that when he is keyed on by the opposing defense he is going to create other opportunities, such as he did for George.”

Junior Tate Olson picked up eight points and junior Isaiah Squires and sophomore Chase Kleppe contributed three points apiece.

Bibeau also pulled down 12 rebounds to post a double-double and Olson had five assists.

The game was a rematch of last year’s section finals, with the Grizzlies gaining revenge and this time notching their first-ever trip to state.

“The outpouring of support from the school and our communities has been unbelievable, so we know this first trip in boys basketball for North Woods is special,” coach Kleppe said. “The communities we represent have demonstrated that this means a lot and this team is proud to be a part of it.”

The 29-1 Grizzlies were scheduled to take on 26-3 and third-seeded Central Minnesota Christian in the Class A quarterfinals on Thursday.

Depending on the result, North Woods will take on either the winner or loser between 22-6 Lake Park/Audubon and 28-3 and second-seeded Goodhue today, with placement games on Saturday.