***Alisha Chaidez is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
The Lady Geese of Wethersfield topped the host team 41-38 Tuesday to advance to the championship game of the Lanark Eastland sectional.
They’ll play Sterling Newman for the sectional championship Thursday.
The Geese played hard as a team to continue their winning streak.
The game started with the possession of Eastland, and they also put the first points on the scoreboard. But Wethersfield’s Abigail Carman made a quick rebound layup for the first points for the Geese.
Wethersfield opened the game a bit quietly, falling behind Eastland 8–4, but the pace soon settled in. The Lady Geese began finding better looks, and both teams traded baskets as the offense picked up. Defensive play tightened as well, with each possession showing more purpose and control.
Right before the half, the Geese shrunk the gap with the score 18-17 Eastland.
Coming back from halftime, Eastland’s game became more heated than before. Numerous fouls were called on both teams, and fans felt that heat from the bleachers.
Eastland had a six-point lead by the end of the third period, 32-26.
As if a switch flipped, the Lady Geese’s game turned around. No time was wasted, with the ladies throwing up every shot they could.
Numerous fouls were called, and the hard defense played out, but both teams wanted the same thing: to win.
The game was tied with just two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The crowd was electric and the teams were head-to-head.
Eastland was up by two, but Lana Scott sunk a three-pointer to get ahead by one point. Fans were on their feet, and the Geese must have felt victory was within their reach.
With one minute left, fouls mounted up. Free throws from both Kyleigh Anderson and Jordan Nelson increased Wethersfield’s lead. As the buzzer sounded, the Lady Geese were victorious.
Top scorers were Lana Scott with 14 points, followed by Camryn Anderson and Emilia Escareno with seven points each.