Guardian Angels Central Catholic Girls win thriller at Pierce to end regular season

After trailing by 15, the Guardian Angels Central Catholic girls came back to score 29 points in the fourth quarter and beat Pierce 47 to 46 on the road Thursday night.

Pierce doubled up GACC 12-6 in the first quarter. Pierce won the second quarter 11-6 to lead 23-12 at halftime.

Both teams scored 6 third quarter points, and the score after three was 29-18 in favor of Pierce at the end of three.

GACC outscored Pierce 29-17 in the fourth quarter.

Kate Knobbe led all scorers with 22 points.

Head Coach Jerry Stracke on the win. "The first three quarters we really struggled. Got the shots we wanted, they just weren't falling, and defensively it seemed like we were a step slower than normal. But they battled through it and still believed they could win, and they came back."

Stracke's girls were down by 15 at one point. "Beating a team like Pierce and then having a win like this going into your sub districts it's huge. And it's a confidence builder for the girls in a number of different ways. Knowing that they can come back when they're behind, and knowing that they don't play well, they still can come out and get it done."

The Bluejays (22-1) battle Winnebago (8-16) in the C2-3 Sub District at Pender Tuesday night.

The Indians knocked off Wakefield 63-36 in the play-in game Monday night.

Winnebago is a dangerous team, and GACC has to be ready for them.

The Bluejays weren't on top of their game against Norfolk Catholic and in the first three quarters against Pierce so GACC has to play the way they did in the fourth quarter against Pierce at all times.

Hopefully the Pierce win inspired this team and got them back on track.

It's the postseason, and time for the Bluejays to make their annual run to the state tournament.

The road to Lincoln starts Tuesday night in Pender, and it's just step one of what GACC hopes is a state championship season.

There's a long way to go between now and the state tournament, but I think the Bluejays have as good a chance as anyone in the class to win the whole thing.

GACC has to be ready to take Winnebago's best shot because you can bet the Indians will come ready to play.

The season is on the line for Winnebago while the Bluejays are pretty much ensured a wildcard to state so GACC has to be ready to go full tilt with the Indians.

Tuesday's game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 p.m.