Goodhue knocks off Lyle-Pacelli boys basketball team
Published 11:41 pm Monday, February 22, 2016
Lyle-Pacelli’s Noah Jiskra tries to split the Goodhue defense during the first half of their Section 1A West semifinal matchup Monday at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photdoesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — The No. 4 seeded Lyle-Pacelli boys basketball team played tough on defense, but it ran out of offense as it lost 50-37 to top-seeded Goodhue in the Section 1A West semifinals in Mayo Civic Center Monday.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Braden Kocer gets an early look in the first half against Goodhue in their Section 1A West semifinal matchup Monday at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photdoesk@austindailyherald.com
The Athletics (15-11 overall) were within 30-27 early in the second half, but the Wildcats (20-9 overall) responded with a 10-3 run over the next eight minute stretch to put it away.
“We played great defense. It was our best effort all year defensively,” LP head coach Scott Koenigs said. “We played hard and the guys gave everything they had. We just went into a rut and we couldn’t score for six or seven minutes.”
LP trailed 20-10 to start the game, but it pulled within 25-22 with a 1:19 left in the first half after Braden Kocer, who had 16 points, converted a pair of three-point plays.
Kocer, Noah Jiskra, who had 14 points and five rebounds, Jordan Cotter and Lee Bauer, all finished their LP basketball careers Monday. Koenigs said all four will be missed greatly.
“I can’t even imagine that and I don’t even want to think about it,” he said. “I just talked with the kids about how unbelievable these seniors are with everything. They have unbelievable character, they’re very excepting of everybody and they’re a great group of kids.”
LP 22 15 — 37
Goodhue 27 23 — 50
LP scoring: Braden Kocer, 16; Noah Jiskra, 14; Lee Bauer, 3; Jordan Cotter, 2; free throws: 76 percent (16-for-21); rebounds: 17 (Jiskra, 5); turnovers: 12
