GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL: Gothenburg erases 16-point deficit to beat Ogallala 70-63
Gothenburg’s Halsey Thomalla (4), Lindly Anderson (0) and Ellie Wyatt (14), react after Thomalla scores while being fouled by Ogallala during a Class C-1 first-round state basketball tournament game on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Gothenburg players celebrate after winning 70-63 over Ogallala in a Class C-1 first-round state basketball tournament game on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Gothenburg’s Zoe Beveridge (1) is guarded by Ogallala's Laney Caskey (2) as she tip-toes along the bench sideline during a Class C-1 first-round state basketball tournament game on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Ogallala’s Harper Smith (14) is crossed over by Gothenburg’s Zoe Beveridge (1) during a Class C-1 first-round state basketball tournament game on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
LINCOLN — The Gothenburg lady Swedes came from behind to defeat Ogallala 70-63 in the Class C-1 State Championship quarterfinal Thursday morning in Lincoln.
"We talked before the game, and knew it was going to be a game of runs," Gothenburg coach Tim Strasuer said. "We had to have a next play mentality. We couldn't panic, had to play together and trust our training."
The Swedes faced No. 1 Milford Friday morning at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. The story will be published online and in the upcoming Tuesday edition.
"We don't get a practice in ahead of the semi," Strauser said. "Fortunately, we play them (Milford) at the end of every summer. It's going to be a fun matchup, but we will have to play well.
"We have our work cut out for us. But, you know, why not us?"
Gothenburg was led by senior Halsey Thomalla with a game-high 32 points and 13 rebounds. Zoe Beveridge chipped in 22.
"I think her (Halsey) playing under control really helped offensively," Strauser said. "She played a little slower, and just trusted herself."
"It could of been our last game so I knew I had to leave it all out there," Thomalla said. "My post moves were working pretty well — I just kept trying those moves, and it ended up working."
The Indians were led by Aniston O'Neil with 20.
The Swedes got off to a quick start with a 3 by Beveridge followed a few plays later with a basket from Thomalla to lead 5-1.
Ogallala switched gears to lead 6-5 after a 3 by Hayden Shaw and 2 of 3 free throws from Addison Powell.
O'Neill knocked down back-to-back 3s to extend the Indian lead by five.
A Thomalla free throw cut the deficit to four before a third O'Neil 3 put the Indians up 15-8.
Gothenburg pulled behind 15-11 off a 3 by Lindly Anderson.
Down the stretch, the Swedes went 4 of 6 from the free throw line to keep it a one possession game.
Grace Evert's basket at the end of the first tied the score at 17.
Ogallala got out to a quick lead to start the second after a 3 by Addison Slama.
The Swedes found trouble after a 7-0 Indian run put them behind 27-18 off an O'Neil 3.
A Beveridge 3 cut the deficit to six before a 6-0 run from O'Neil extended the Indian lead to 12.
Beveridge followed with a free throw then a 3, pulling Gothenburg behind 33-25.
Ogallala finished off the first half with a 7-2 run off a Slama 3 to gain a 40-28 lead at halftime.
Gothenburg fell to their largest deficit of 16 points after Ogallala opened the third quarter with a 4-0 run.
The Swedes began to rally after Beveridge made a pair of free throws that was followed by a Thomalla 3-point play, cutting the deficit to 11.
Gothenburg wasn't done yet, and out of an Ogallala timeout, the Swedes continued to battle.
Beveridge knocked down a 3 that was followed by a Thomalla basket to cut the deficit to six.
Laney Caskey got an Indian point on a free throw before the Swedes used a 6-0 run to pull within one at 45-44 after a free throw by Aliyah Carlson.
Shaydyn Rasby used a 3-point play to put Ogallala up four before Thomalla scored back-to-back baskets near the end of the third, tying the match at 48.
After Rasby's opening basket in the fourth, Thomalla became a powerhouse that Ogallala couldn't stop.
The Swede senior put up 11 straight points, giving Gothenburg a 59-51 lead.
After the Swedes gained control, Ogallala looked deflated.
A Casket 3-point play cut the deficit to five at 59-54.
The teams traded baskets down the back stretch of the fourth with Ogallala keeping a steady pace behind by four.
After Shaw fouled out, Gothenburg's Ellie Wyatt knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Swedes up 67-61.
The Indians' final basket came from Caskey, cutting the deficit back to four.
Ogallala started to foul to slow down the Swede pace.
Gothenburg finished off the quarterfinal at the free throw line, going 3 for 6 to capture the win 70-63.
"The win was amazing," Thomalla said. "I knew we wanted to get back to Pinnacle Bank Arena. We were just putting all our effort into maintaining that lead to get us back there."
