Gothenburg lady Swedes wrap up season with C1 third place trophy
The Gothenburg lady Swedes gather for a group photo after winning third place in the Class C-1 State Championships Saturday in Lincoln.
Gothenburg’s Kinley Foster (20) reacts after her teammate Zoe Beveridge, not pictured, scores from beyond the arc during a Class C-1 semifinal state basketball tournament game March 6 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Gothenburg's Ellie Wyatt (14) goes up for a 3-pointer during the first half of a Class C-1 Nebraska state girls basketball tournament semifinal game against Milford at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Friday, March 6.
Gothenburg's Halsey Thomalla (4) goes up for a 3-pointer during the first half of a Class C-1 Nebraska state girls basketball tournament semifinal game against Milford at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Friday, March 6.
Gothenburg's Aubry Hall (22) grabs the rebound against Milford's Abby Crabtree (3) during the first half of a Class C-1 Nebraska state girls basketball tournament semifinal game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Friday, March 6.
Gothenburg's Zoe Beveridge (1) goes up for a layup during the first half of a Class C-1 Nebraska state girls basketball tournament semifinal game against Milford at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Friday, March 6.
LINCOLN — The Gothenburg lady Swedes wrapped up their season as the Class C-1 State Championship third place finishers after defeating Fort Calhoun69-64 Saturday at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Gothenburg was led by Halsey Thomalla with a game-high 24 points. Zoe Beveridge chipped in 14.
Thomalla finished off the tournament with 77 points and Beveridge ended with 56.
The Swedes kicked off the third place match with a 10-0 run off an Aubry Hall 3 before Fort Calhoun called a timeout.
Ansley Elofson ended the Swede run with a pair of Pioneer free throws.
Down the back stretch of the first quarter, Gothenburg used a 6-2 run off of free throws to lead 22-8.
A basket by Lindly Anderson put the Swedes up 16 before a Pioneer basket ended the first quarter with the Swedes in the lead 24-10.
Thomalla kicked off the second quarter with a basket.
Maelie Nelson knocked down a 3 followed by an Elofson free throw, cutting the deficit to 12.
Gothenburg went up 34-16 after Hall and Ellie Wyatt knocked down back-to-back 3s.
Fort Calhoun used a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 11 at 36-25.
A 3-point play by Thomalla edged the Swedes up 41-27.
The Pioneers finished off the first half with a 3-0 run off a basket by Isabel Wray.
The lady Swedes led 43-32 at halftime.
Fort Calhoun started the second half with a 5-0 run off a Raeann Massey 3 to cut the deficit to six.
Thomalla scored a basket then Beveridge added two free throws to put the Swedes up 47-39.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch with the Pioneers staying closely behind the Swedes.
Gothenburg used a 6-0 run off a pair of Beveridge free throws to lead 56-45.
Massey ended the third quarter with back-to-back trips to the free throw line, going 3 for 4 to cut the deficit to eight.
The Swedes led 56-48 going into the fourth quarter.
A Thomalla basket kicked off the fourth, putting Gothenburg up 10.
Fort Calhoun came within seven before Kinley Foster knocked down a 3 at 63-53.
After an Elofson 3-point play, Foster hit a second Gothenburg 3 to keep the Swedes up 10.
Pioneer Dehlia Hallberg used a 4-0 run to pull Fort Calhoun behind 67-62.
Elofson free throws cut the deficit to three before foul trouble sent two Swedes to the line.
Wyatt and Beveridge split free throws to edge out Fort Calhoun 69-64.
SEMIFINAL
Gothenburg lost the semifinal 63-51 Friday to Milford.
Milford went on to win the first-ever state championship for their program.
Thomalla led the Swedes with a game-high 24 points. Beveridge added 14.
The Swedes jumped out to a 5-1 lead after a Thomalla 3 and a Beveridge basket.
Gothenburg went on a 13-0 run with Thomalla collecting 10 points to lead 18-6.
An Ashlynn Miller basket cut the deficit to 10 before a buzzer beating 3 from Abby Crabtree pulled Milford behind 18-11.
Crabtree kicked off the second quarter with a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to five before a Wyatt 3.
Gothenburg led 25-17 after a Beveridge basket.
Milford used a 6-0 run to pull behind 25-23.
Beveridge knocked down a 3 followed by a basket to extend the Swedes' lead 30-23.
Milford tied the match at 30 after a pair of Kylie Jakub free throws ended the first half.
Thomalla kicked off the third quarter with a 3 before Milford used a 9-0 run to pull away 39-33. Gothenburg called a timeout.
Milford continued on their run, completing a 16-0 drive to lead 46-33 after a Miller 3-point play.
Thomalla received her fourth foul and Gothenburg pulled the leading scorer to the bench.
Beveridge found the hoop to end the Milford run and Wyatt knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to nine.
Milford led 48-37 after a Shayla Reutenberg basket.
Wyatt had a chance to cut the deficit back to nine but missed both free throws. Gothenburg trailed by 11 to start the fourth.
A Thomalla basket started the fourth, pulling the Swedes behind 48-39 before a Crabtree 3.
Anderson knocked down a 3 to cut the deficit back to nine but the Milford lead couldn't be erased by the Swedes.
Back-to-back Milford 3s sealed their win.
Thomalla responded with her own 3, pulling the Swedes behind 57-51 before fouling out.
Milford ended the semifinal with a 6-0 run to win 63-51.
Gothenburg ended their season with a 23-5 record.Â
