New Prague wins first Class AAAA playoff game
Rochester Mayo, the 14th ranked team in Class AAAA, ended one of the best seasons for the New Prague girls’ basketball team.
The Spartans edged the Trojans, 33-30, Saturday, Feb. 29 in the Section 1AAAA Semifinals.
“This was a hard game to swallow. We didn’t shoot it well, but wow, did we defend our tails off with a lot of toughness,” New Prague head coach Luke Swedberg said. “We had our chances until the final horn went off. That is kind of what has always defined who this group is...toughness.”
Senior Emily Russo completed her fantastic career with 12 points and eighth grader Katie Vasecka added 10 points against Mayo.
The Trojans started the week with a 58-41 win over Owatonna Wednesday, Feb. 26.
This was the first win for a New Prague team in the class AAAA playoffs.
Senior Amanda Giesen got her team off to a great start, scoring 17 points in the first half, a half in which the Trojans would lead 31-19.
The Huskies pulled to within 10, 35-25, on a basket by Sarah Kingland six minutes into the second half.
Katie Vasecka followed with a two point basket and a three point basket and Giesen had a two point basket, which built the Trojan lead to 42-25.
Giesen finished the night with 24 points, Russo scored 20 points, and K. Vasecka chipped in nine.
“This was our first playoff win since moving to Class AAAA,” Swedberg said. “It definitely felt like a survive and advance type of game for us.”
New Prague finished the season with a...
To see more on this story pick up the March 5, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times.