Mission Accomplished: Goodhue Girls Class A State Champs

Shirts were sold in the Goodhue community after the section title that said, "Finish The Mission" for girls basketball supporters.

The Goodhue Wildcats did just that with an exclamation point -- winning the Class A championship 89-64 over Maranatha Christian Academy of Brooklyn Park in a foul-infested game.

There were 39 fouls whistled and 72 free throw attempts with the teams connecting on 55 of them. Goodhue was 27 of 43 and Maranatha Christian 18 of 29.

The Mustangs had three players foul out of the game.

In every state tournament game the Wildcats pounced on their opponents early and took impressive halftime leads: 47-18 over Sacred Heart in the opener, 50-25 over Wheaton/Herman-Norcross in the semifinals and 41-29 today.

The Wildcats had three players named to the All-Tournament team: senior Taylor Larson, junior Maddy Miller and sophomore Sydney Lodermeier. All three had double-doubles in the title game. Larson had 12 points and 11 rebounds, Miller 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Lodermeier 24 points and 12 boards.

Goodhue outrebounded Maranatha 57-42 and collected 22 offensive rebounds, led by Miller's nine.

Each team had four three-point baskets in the game. McKenzie Ryan drained two for the Wildcats.

The 89 points were the most scored this season by Goodhue.

The Wildcats lived throughout the tournament off converting turnovers into points - scoring 31 points against Sacred Heart, 35 against Wheaton/Herman-Norcross and 26 in the championship game with Maranatha Christian Academy.

Fourteen of the 15 Goodhue players are leaving for the airport tomorrow morning to fly to Florida and join their choir and band performing at Disney World.

Wildcat head coach Josh Wieme was elated after the game and told KDHL the pressure seemed to be lifted after their incredible comeback win over Lyle-Pacelli.

The team cruised in every game after that improbable thriller when they scored 11 points in the final two minutes to win.

It was Goodhue's first girls basketball title in their sixth trip to state.

During the news conference after the game, a reporter asked Lodermeier and Miller about next season considering the fact they will both be back and Lodermeier calmly replied, "I'm just trying to enjoy this for a while."

I have a feeling the Wildcats just might make it back next year, but man will they miss the five seniors from this year's squad.

Wieme told me they each had different roles and did them so well.

Seniors include Michelle Hadler, Taylor Larson, Kally Diercks, Keisha O'Reilly and Kate Stehr.

Plainview-Elgin-Millville crushed New London-Spicer 72-42 for the Class 2A title to give Section 1 two champions, and Winona will try to make it 3 for 3 tonight.