***Kyra Galbraith is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
On Saturday, the Geese traveled to Woodhull for the 2026 LTC Tournament, hosted by the Ridgewood Spartans.
The energy in the gym was high, and the stakes were even higher.
In the first round, the Geese faced a familiar opponent — the ROWVA Wildcats. Earlier in the regular season, the Geese had beaten the Wildcats. This time, they came in confident and ready. But basketball can turn in a matter of seconds.
The game picked up speed early on with the Wildcats winning the opening tip and scoring first with a quick layup. Senior Drew Hornback answered right away, knocking down a shot to tie the game.
Hornback caught fire in the first quarter, scoring 12 points and keeping the Geese within reach. Still, the Wildcats held a small edge at the end of the first period, leading 17–14.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern. The Geese battled hard, putting up nine points, but the Wildcats stayed steady adding 13 to the scoreboard. At halftime, the Geese trailed 30–23.
Coming out of the break, the Geese looked like a new team. They pushed the pace, attacked the basket and tightened up on defense.
Their effort paid off. Shot by shot, stop by stop, they chipped away at the lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Geese had completely turned the game around and led 43–38.
The fourth quarter brought the crowd to its feet. Every possession mattered. Every shot felt huge.
The Geese held onto their lead for most of the final minutes, but the Wildcats refused to back down. In the closing moments, key free throws helped the Wildcats slip back in front. Despite a strong fight to the finish, the Geese fell short.
The final score was 52–48.
Hornback led the team with 20 points. Junior Kruz Galbraith added 11, and junior Collin Hodge also made important contributions.
The Geese won’t have to wait long for another chance. On Tuesday, they return to Woodhull to take on Knoxville — ready for redemption.