By Ben Priesgen
Journalist
On March 12, Lomria girls basketball lost 58-31 to Neillsville in the Division Four State Semifinals, ending their tournament run at the Resch Center.
Neillsville (28-1) was leading 9-5 after Lily Christian knocked down a high-arching three-pointer from the corner in front of the Warriors’ bench for Lomira (22-7).
Kennedy Goebel made a corner three-pointer, and Josie Christain made a fade-away three from the corner to tighten the game up at 14-11 with Neillsville in the lead at the 11:39 mark in the first half.
The Warriors scored nine consecutive points over the next six minutes of the game before a J, Christian bucket and L. Christian hit another three to close the gap to 26-16 with 4:35 left in the first half.
The Lions got baskets from Goebel and Hanna Faber to put the halftime score at 32-20 in favor of the Warriors.
Lomira started the second half with four points apiece from Goebel and J. Christian, making the score 37-28 with Neillsville ahead with less than 12 minutes left in the game.
Neillsville’s aggressive defense and efficient offense were the difference, going on a 19-2 scoring stretch over the next nine minutes of the game to give the Warriors a 56-30 lead with 2:34 on the game clock.
Lomira’s thrilling tournament ended with the large Lomira Lions crowd cheering the players as they came off the floor for the final time, with the Lomira band playing the school song in the 58-31 state tournament loss.
Neillsville’s junior duo of Tessa Warren, 20 points, ten rebounds, and six blocks, plus Madi Davel with 14 points and eight rebounds, led the Warriors in their win.
Lomira’s Josie Christian paced the Lions with 13 points while being the focal point of the Warriors’ defense attention all game.
“Our journey was not expected at all because we were not ranked all season, but when it mattered most, we came together as a team and were playing our best team basketball,” said Head Coach Liz Cook. “It is a season and a team that will be one of the best basketball memories that I have.”
“I told our team to look around when they walked out onto the floor of the Resch on Thursday to look at all the people who are here to support them,” said Cook. “This is what small town communities are all about, and the support for these ten young ladies was amazing.”
Game Summary
Thursday, March 12
State Semifinals
#1 Neillsville 32-26 58
#4 Lomira 20-11 31
Final
Points: Josie Christian 13. Kennedy Goebel 9. Lily Christian 6. Hanna Faber 3
Rebounds: Goebel 7. Olivia Marshall 5. L. Christian 3. J. Christian 2. Brianna Frea 2. Rachel Chervenka 2. Oelsyea Olig 1
Assists: J. Christian 3. Jadalee Luedtke 1
Steals: J. Christian 3. Faber 1. Marshall 1. Goebel 1
Blocks: J. Christian 1
3pt: L. Christian 2. J. Christian 1. Goebel 1
Season Individual Stats
Points: Josie Christian 749. Kennedy Goebel 278. Lily Christian 214. Jadalee Luedtke 115. Whitney Witkoswki 102. Rachel Chervenka 73. Oelysea Olig 45. Brianna Frea 44. Hanna Faber 42. Olivia Marshall 34
Rebounds: J. Christian 203. L. Christian 153. Chervenka 119. Goebel 112. Frea 91. Olig 87. Faber 78. Luedtke 56. Marshall 55. Witkowski 31
Assists: J. Christian 105. Luedtke 43. Goebel 39. Witkowski 24. Faber 10. L.Christian 10
Steals: J. Christian 146. Goebel 46. Chervenka 34. Luedtke 29. L. Christian 20. Frea 16. Witkowski 16. Faber 13. Olig 9. Marshall 9
Blocks: J. Christian 12. Olig 10
3pt: J.Christian 70. Goebel 34. L. Christian 30. Witkowski 22. Luedtke 8. Frea 3. Marshall 1
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