Goodhue Has Rematch with Rushford-Peterson in Section Final

The Goodhue Wildcats have been as tenacious on defense this season as, well, a wild cat. On Saturday they held the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms 26 points under their season average.

Blooming Prairie's 2,000-point scorer John Rumpza was held to just three field goals and 13 points in the 58-42 Goodhue win. The victory sets up a rematch with Rushford-Peterson for the Section 1 Class A title. Goodhue head coach Matt Halverson played for and coached under the Trojans' legendary head coach, Tom Vix.

Tyler Schumacher led the way for Goodhue with 19 points and sophomore Jacob Mcnamara was a difference maker with 11 second-half points. Halverson told KDHL before the game that the plan was to try and tire out the Awesome Blossoms with long offensive possessions and plenty of ball movement to keep their players chasing.

Blooming Prairie played just six players and the plan worked, as evidenced by the free throw shooting. Blooming Prairie was 17 of 25 for the game, eight of 10 in the first half and nine of 15 in the second. The Wildcats finished the game 15 of 19 from the charity stripe and shot just two free throws in the first half while shooting 17 in the second.

Halverson started an extra guard at the beginning of the game and then inserted an extra post player in 6-foot-3 Mcnamara  to start the second half. He said if the game plan worked and Blooming Prairie were to tire, the interior would open up, and he was right.

Halverson's alma mater, Rushford-Peterson, had no trouble with the surprising Kingsland Knights in the East Subsection title game, winning 80-51 setting up the rematch Thursday in Rochester. The winner heads to the state tournament.

Halverson hinted after the game his Goodhue squad would have to play a perfect game to beat the No. 1-rated team in the state in Class A. Rushford-Peterson may be able to win in ANY class this season. They defeated highly touted Class AA East Subsection champion Caledonia twice during the regular season, cruised by Minneapolis North by 15 and defeated Goodhue during the regular season in Rushford by 19. The Trojans have not lost to a Minnesota school this season. Their only loss was  69-60 to Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau of Wisconsin. Man, would I love to see that team!

Rushford-Peterson plays defense -- they have some incredible shooters and they have size. Saturday's win gave R-P their 16th subsection title in the past 19 years, and they will be going for their 15th section championship Thursday against Goodhue. They are 54 of their last 57 in section playoff games. That, my friends, is dominance!