Lady Swedes among the state’s best in C1 | sports
There are a number of things that could have worked against Lady Sweden’s basketball team this season.
They were young, did not have much height and had three fairly significant places on the floor to fill after they lost key players last season.
Still, none of these things have ever been earmarked as an excuse this season as the team loaded into the season with new perspectives and big goals – goals that took them deep into the State Basketball Tournament and a fourth-place finish among the best in Class C1.
Head coach Kassie Schuett said that the calm with which her team tackled an extremely difficult tournament area did not surprise her one bit.
“The resilience each of these girls showed was absolutely amazing,” she said. “I really feel like they were not ready to throw in the towel and they were disciplined enough not to. “The matches in the state. Every match we played they wanted to win and that shows a lot about them as players and people.”
On March 9, Lady Swedes faced an experienced Lincoln Lutheran team in the Class C1 semifinals in Lincoln.
Gothenburg won the lead and came first on the board, but the Warriors were quick to respond and tied together immediately.
At the end of the first quarter, the Swedes were 8-5 behind.
Gothenburg dug deep into the second quarter and kept the Warriors at just five points while Lincoln Lutheran held a three-point lead until Ashlyn Richeson buried a third just before halftime to get it together.
The third quarter saw the team fight defensively with the Warriors having a two-point lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Gothenburg struggled to find the edge and struggled with sales throughout the match and was held on just three points in the fourth quarter while Lincoln Lutheran used things to win 35-23.
Gothenburg dominated on the boards against the Warriors, and backed Lincoln Lutheran with 34-20 in the match.
Kynlee Strauser had six points to lead the Swedes and Richeson added five.
Ellarey Harm had nine rebounds.
However, the Swedes were not ready yet.
They continued to play in third place against Grand Island Central Catholic on March 10.
The Crusaders had a significant height advantage over the Swedes, but that did not stop them from following the more experienced team.
Gothenburg was under two at the end of the first quarter and kept that disadvantage into the half.
In the third quarter, the Crusaders took another three points to extend the lead to five on their way into the fourth.
The Swedes dug deep and continued to fight and made a draw with 1:52 left to play.
Crusader’s height and size were eventually used to their advantage, which prevented the Swedes from winning.
Despite finishing the season with a loss of 53-46, Gothenburg took home fourth place and finished among the elite in class C-1 season 2021-22.
Richeson had 13 points to lead the Swedes and Aubrey O’Hare, Clara Evert, Strauser and Harm each had seven.
Schuett said the balanced attack the team brought into the tournament was what the girls had shown throughout the season and took advantage of the trial time when the moment appeared to make an impact.
“I do not think it surprised me how each of the girls came into the tournament and played when given the opportunity,” she said. “Madi Smith, for example, did not get much time in the Broken Bow game because the pace was a little faster but she came in during the GICC game and gave 100% all the time to girls who were much bigger and more experienced than she was on She really impressed me all year and gave us tremendous minutes on the track when it came. ”
Schuett went on to note that Addi Wyatt also played a major role in the GICC game, giving valuable time on the pitch when Ellarey Harm got into some ugly trouble.
“Because they had three girls over six feet tall, we needed someone with more height,” she said. “Addi came in, no questions asked and did everything she needed to do while she was out there.”
Each player contributed this season, no matter how many minutes they watched on the field, and Schuett said it is something that this team – which will have all the players returning next season – will certainly use in the coming years.
“We are excited about what will come in the next few years for girls’ basketball for Gothenburg,” she said. “We will continue to push and get better through the summer season and be ready to go when it’s our time next year.”
While many goals set this year were met, Schuett said there are adjustments that have already been made – for herself and for the girls – as she looks ahead.
“I set goals for myself as a coach this season and I’m lucky to say I reached those goals,” she said. With that said, I have to go into next year and set higher goals and strive to achieve them not only for myself but for my coaches, athletes and Gothenburg society. “
There have been a number of moments this season that have made the year what it was, and Schuett said she could not limit herself to just one who was her favorite.
“Every day with these girls and coaches is the best moment for me,” she said. “They all show up every day during training ready to go and every match ready to compete and that’s more than I could have ever asked for.”
The Swedes have owned this season and done a fantastic job of not only embracing every moment and experience, but also expecting more as they continued to work to get better.
Schuett said she knew when the crucial moment was for her club.
“I think after beating Sidney (January 21), in what they will tell you (before beating Bow at State) what was the most fun they’ve had in a match,” she said. “They loved that game and I think it’s because they could show what they can be and what they are. They worked together and beat a good Class B school that got grades all season.”
That moment, Schuett said, was the ah-ha moment for her team.
“After realizing how much fun they had during that match, I think they took it and kept it going all season,” she said.
The Swedes end the season with the record 19-9 and have laid the foundation for a program that will be ongoing for many years to come.