Lomira Girls Advance to State for the First Time in 33 Years

On March 7, Lomira girls basketball beat Kenosha St. Joseph’s 61-57 in the Division Four Sectional Final to advance to the program’s first state appearance since 1993.
Lomira (22-6) jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Kenosha St. Joseph’s (21-7), started by a steal and layup from sophomore star Josie Christian.
St. Joe’s responded to take an 11-7 lead before J. Christian and Kennedy Goebel scored baskets to tie the game at 11 at the nine-minute mark of the first half.
The Lions got six more points from J. Christian the rest of the half to go into the halftime break trailing 23-17 to the Lancers.

Lomira came out roaring in the second half with ten consecutive points, highlighted by J. Christian scoring eight points, including two three-pointers, to take a 27-23 lead at the 16:51 mark in the second half.
Goebel and Whitney Witkowski knocked down back-to-back threes to give the Lions a 33-27 lead after St. Joe’s had tied the game.
The Lancers fought back to take a 40-38 lead before Goebel and J. Christian combined to score eight points to give the Lions the lead back at 46-42 with 7:26 left in the second half.
Jadalee Luedtke scored four straight points to increase Lomira’s lead to 50-44 before the Lancers star guard Kamryn Leece hit two three-pointers to tie the game at 53 with 1:25 left in the sectional final.
Lomira’s J. Christian made a strong drive for a basket and drew a foul to go to the free throw line to convert a big three-point play for a 56-53 lead over the Lions with 1:11 left on the game clock.
The Lancers missed a three-pointer on their next possession after a J. Christian free throw to extend the Lomira lead to 57-53 with 54 seconds left in the game.
St. Joe’s closed the gap to 57-55 with 46 seconds left before Brianna Frea made a free throw for Lomira to extend the lead to 58-55 with 32 seconds on the clock.
Kenosha St. Joe’s made a basket with 23.9 seconds left to raise the tension and anxiety in the gym for the two fan bases when Frea went to the line with 19 seconds left to try to increase the Lions’ lead in the waning moments of the game.
Frea calmly made her two free throws to give her team a 60-57 lead before the Lancers missed a shot with 7.6 seconds left in the game, and Lomira secured the rebound, sending Goebel to the free throw line.
Goebel knocked out a free throw to give the Lions a two-possession lead at 61-57 with 5.6 seconds left, sending the Lions into a joyous celebration that was 33 years in the making with 1978 Lomira Head Coach State Champion Ric Bloohm serving on the current staff as an assistant.
Josie Christian’s 31 points and Kennedy Goebel’s 13 points paved the way for Lomira’s improbable Sectional Final win.
“I am extremely overjoyed by this accomplishment, and nobody saw it coming; it was the Cinderella story we all needed,” said Sophomore forward Lilian Christian. “My Dad (Curt) was part of the Lomira boys team that went to state 26 years ago, so it is great to follow in his footsteps.”
“Advancing to the state tournament is an incredible accomplishment for our team, and it reflects our hard work, dedication, and teamwork throughout the season,” said Sophomore Whitney Witkowski.
“I think it is an amazing accomplishment for our team because we have worked so hard this season and push each other for every game and practice,” said Sophomore Josie Christian. “It means a lot to our community, coaches, players knowing that the program hasn’t gone ot the state tournament since 1993.”
“It is a really special feeling for our program knowing that it has been 33 years since we have gone to the state tournament, and it makes it more meaningful that we are helping make history for our school,” said Sophomore Kennedy Goebel.
At Chilton Sectional Semifinal vs Kohler
On March 5, Lomira girls basketball defeated the number one seed Kohler 56-40 at Chilton High School to advance to the WIAA Division four sectional final against Kenosha St. Joseph’s.
Lomira (22-6) jumped out to a quick 17-4 lead over Kohler, led by aggressive defense and seven points from Kennedy Goebel and five from Josie Christian.
Kohler closed the gap on the scoreboard to 19-12 before J. Christian got a steal for a fast break, followed up a basket in the lane, and a three-pointer to send the Lomira into a group celebration, thanks to a 26-12 lead, causing Kohler to call time with 3:39 left in the first half.
J. Christian hit a step-back three-pointer, followed by a Whitney Witkowski three-pointer to expand the Lions’ lead to 32-15 before Kohler’s star sophomore, Gwen Elliott, scored seven points to put the score at 32-22.
Lomira got another basket from J. Christian before halftime to take a 34-24 lead into the break.
Jadalee Luedtke scored two baskets in the lane to increase the Lions’ lead up to 38-24 before
Kohler’s only source of offense in the game was offensive rebounds, and Elliott took over for a short stretch with eight consecutive points, with five points coming from Elliott to close the gap to 38-32 at the 10:58 mark in the second half.
Lomira got two points from a drive from Luedtke, then a steal from J. Christian, who pulled with a steady confidence to splash through a three-pointer to take a firm grip of the game back to the Lions with a 43-32 lead with 8:50 left in the game.
Goebel furthered the Lions’ lead with a steal and two baskets in the lane, with the last one being the most difficult one to give Lomira a 49-37 lead with 3:05 left in the sectional semifinal.
The Lions closed out the game at the free throw line with Luedtke and J. Christian finishing off the 56-40 impressive sectional semifinal win.
Josie Christian scored 23 points with Kennedy Goebel and Jadalee Luedtke adding 11 points each to advance Lomira to the sectional final for the first time since 2012.
“We went into the game knowing that we would have to rebound well and play great defense,” said Head Coach Liz Cook. “We executed our game plan and used the momentum from our defense to fuel our offense.”
Lomira girls basketball received the number four seed at the WIAA Division Four State Tournament against the number one seed Neillsville (27-1) and will play in the State Semifinals at the Resch Center on March 12 at 6:35 p.m.
Game Summary
Saturday, March 7
WIAA Tournament-Sectional Final
#3 Lomira 17-44 61
#2 Kenosha St. Joseph’s 23-34 57
Final
Points: Josie Christian 31. Kennedy Goebel 13. Rachel Chervenka 4. Hanna Faber 4. Jadalee Luedtke 4. Whitney Witkowski 3. Oelysea Olig 2
Rebounds: J. Christian 7. Goebel 4. L. Christian 3. Chervenka 3. Luedtke 3. Frea 3. Faber 3
Assists: J. Christian 3. Luedtke 3. Goebel 2
Steals; Goebel 4. J. Christian 3
3pt: J. Christian 2. Goebel 1. Witkowski 1
Thursday. March 5
WIAA Tournament-Sectional Semifinal
#3 Lomira 34-22 56
#1 Kohler 24-16 40
Final
Points: Josie Christian 23. Kennedy Goebel 11. Jadalee Luedtke 11. Whitney Witkowski 5. Lily Christian 2. Olivia Marshall 2. Brianna Frea 2
Rebounds: J. Christian 7. Chervenka 5. L. Christian 4. Olig 3. Faber 3. Witkowski 3
Assists: J. Christian 6
Steals: J. Christan 5. Goebel 3
Blocks; J. Christian 3. Faber 2
3pt: J. Christian 3. Goebel 1. Witkowski 1