GACC Girls upset by Ansley-Litchfield in 1st round of State

The 2018 girls state basketball tournament began on Thursday, March 1st in Lincoln.

In Class D1, the #3 Guardian Angels Central Catholic Bluejays opened play against the #6 Ansley-Litchfield Spartans at Lincoln Southwest.

Ansley-Litchfield jumped out to a 15-4 lead after the first quarter, and held a 30-18 advantage at halftime.

GACC came out firing in the third quarter, making four three-pointers ans outscoring the Spartans 17-9, but still trailed 39-35 after the third.

The Bluejays were able to tie the game in the fourth quarter at 41-41, but could never quite take a lead, and Ansley-Litchfield went on to win the game 49-43.

Lexis Haase led three GACC players in double figures with 13 points. Marissa Hunke had 12, all from three point range, and Angela Jansen added 11.

Good season for the Bluejays that ended a bit sooner than they would of hoped for I'm sure.

GACC ends their season at 20-7 overall.

The Bluejays had a lot of nice wins this season, in my opinion, including victories over Fremont Bergan, Wynot, Winnebago, Howells-Dodge, O'Neill, Hartington Cedar Catholic (twice), Pierce, Clarkson/Leigh, and Weeping Water.

GACC knocked off a lot of good teams this year, and should be very proud of the season they had.

The Bluejays graduate just two seniors in Haase and Allie Knobbe.

Both are significant and big losses for GACC as both had stellar careers for the Bluejays I would say.

I'm sure their contributions to GACC basketball will not soon be forgotten, especially Haase, who is headed to Midland next season.

Key returners next year for the Bluejays include Hunke, Hannah Knobbe, Greta Vering, Brenna Rief, Jansen, Ally Plagge, Maddie Bracht, and Brandi Doernemann.

I think the future of GACC basketball remains bright.

Haase is a big loss, but the Bluejays bring back some great players.

GACC figures to be fairly young again next year, but with another year of growth, development, and experience on their side...should be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

I must say I was surprised the Bluejays lost to the Spartans.

I think digging themselves a deep hole early was ultimately too much for GACC to overcome.

The Bluejays just weren't as polished and explosive offensively this year as GACC teams of the past, in my opinion.

That means the returning players and newcomers have a lot of shooting to do this offseason.

Being confident and being able to knock down clutch shots and free throws will be critical to the Bluejays' future success I would say.

Defense and full court pressure will always be a big thing for GACC too, but the Bluejays have to get back to scoring the way GACC teams of the past have if the Bluejays want to get back to winning state titles.

Next year's girls definitely have a lot to live up to as GACC tries to make state for the 22nd year in a row.