JUDA - Junior guard Chelsea Burkhalter and the other members of the Juda High School girls basketball team continue to live in the moment.
After spending about six hours on the bus for back-to-back games last week, the Panthers won the program's first regional championship. Burkhalter didn't envision hitting seven 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 28 points to propel the Panthers to a 41-38 overtime win over Hustisford to win a WIAA Division 5 regional title.
"At the end, I didn't realize how many 3-pointers I made," Burkhalter said. "I was just in the moment."
No moment has been too big for Juda in the tournament this year. After upsetting No. 2 seed Randolph and No. 3 seed Hustisford, the Panthers (15-10) will take on No. 1 seed Fall River in a Division 5 sectional semifinal on Thursday in Evansville. Juda coach Curt Brown understands that Fall River (20-4), a state tournament qualifier last year, may be the biggest hurdle yet.
"They have 20 wins for a reason," Brown said. "We fit the underdog role because we are the No. 7 seed. We embrace it. It's a chance to measure where we stand. When you get to a sectional semifinal this is the kind of competition you will get."
The Panthers are led by the junior guard duo of Burkhalter, who averages a team-high 16.0 points per game, and Alexis Goecks (12.0 ppg).
"I'm just really shocked, happy and grateful for my team," Burkhalter said. "I know we always believed we could do it. We all just had to believe. I think that is what helped push us through to get that regional championship."
Goecks has taken on the point guard role this season. In combination with Burkhalter, the duo has played a starring role for the Panthers.
"I never expected to make it this far," Goecks said. "Now that I'm here it's so amazing."
Fall River 5-foot-10 senior Kelly Tramburg leads her team, averaging 16.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Senior teammate Alyssa Klecker (15.9 ppg) gives Fall River an outside shooting threat.
"We will have to limit Tramburg and Klecker," Brown said. "For us we have to limit our turnovers and stay patient. If we can stop them and dictate the tempo that will be key. There is no easy answer. They along with Barneveld are two of the best teams in the state."
Goecks isn't backing down from the challenge. Many of the girls on the basketball team made a run to state last spring with Juda's softball team. They relied on their athleticism and speed on the basepaths in the spring. Now, they are counting on that same quickness paying off on the hardwood.
"They will be tough competition," Goecks said of Fall River. "We want to go out, play our hardest and be the team we have become. Hopefully, we can go out there and pull it off."
Goecks said early in the season the Panthers were finding their roles and adjusting to new players and roles.
"Now we have become more of a team through it all," she said.
Juda's offense had a strong performance with a 32-point first half in a 54-43 victory over Randolph on Friday.
Brown is using three days of practices to set a gameplan to attack Fall River.
"What it comes down to is if we can score the ball," Brown said. "We have had girls shooting the basketball with a lot of confidence. We have been playing great team basketball. Fall River is a great team for a reason. They will know every detail about our team. I think one of our strengths is we can play a couple of different ways."
Tramburg could have a big game against the Panthers, who don't have anyone 5-10 or taller.
"We are a small team," Burkhalter said. "We have to box out and be one of the aggressive teams. We will have to play a great defensive game. We just have to play smart with all of our heart. This could be the last game we ever play."
After spending about six hours on the bus for back-to-back games last week, the Panthers won the program's first regional championship. Burkhalter didn't envision hitting seven 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 28 points to propel the Panthers to a 41-38 overtime win over Hustisford to win a WIAA Division 5 regional title.
"At the end, I didn't realize how many 3-pointers I made," Burkhalter said. "I was just in the moment."
No moment has been too big for Juda in the tournament this year. After upsetting No. 2 seed Randolph and No. 3 seed Hustisford, the Panthers (15-10) will take on No. 1 seed Fall River in a Division 5 sectional semifinal on Thursday in Evansville. Juda coach Curt Brown understands that Fall River (20-4), a state tournament qualifier last year, may be the biggest hurdle yet.
"They have 20 wins for a reason," Brown said. "We fit the underdog role because we are the No. 7 seed. We embrace it. It's a chance to measure where we stand. When you get to a sectional semifinal this is the kind of competition you will get."
The Panthers are led by the junior guard duo of Burkhalter, who averages a team-high 16.0 points per game, and Alexis Goecks (12.0 ppg).
"I'm just really shocked, happy and grateful for my team," Burkhalter said. "I know we always believed we could do it. We all just had to believe. I think that is what helped push us through to get that regional championship."
Goecks has taken on the point guard role this season. In combination with Burkhalter, the duo has played a starring role for the Panthers.
"I never expected to make it this far," Goecks said. "Now that I'm here it's so amazing."
Fall River 5-foot-10 senior Kelly Tramburg leads her team, averaging 16.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Senior teammate Alyssa Klecker (15.9 ppg) gives Fall River an outside shooting threat.
"We will have to limit Tramburg and Klecker," Brown said. "For us we have to limit our turnovers and stay patient. If we can stop them and dictate the tempo that will be key. There is no easy answer. They along with Barneveld are two of the best teams in the state."
Goecks isn't backing down from the challenge. Many of the girls on the basketball team made a run to state last spring with Juda's softball team. They relied on their athleticism and speed on the basepaths in the spring. Now, they are counting on that same quickness paying off on the hardwood.
"They will be tough competition," Goecks said of Fall River. "We want to go out, play our hardest and be the team we have become. Hopefully, we can go out there and pull it off."
Goecks said early in the season the Panthers were finding their roles and adjusting to new players and roles.
"Now we have become more of a team through it all," she said.
Juda's offense had a strong performance with a 32-point first half in a 54-43 victory over Randolph on Friday.
Brown is using three days of practices to set a gameplan to attack Fall River.
"What it comes down to is if we can score the ball," Brown said. "We have had girls shooting the basketball with a lot of confidence. We have been playing great team basketball. Fall River is a great team for a reason. They will know every detail about our team. I think one of our strengths is we can play a couple of different ways."
Tramburg could have a big game against the Panthers, who don't have anyone 5-10 or taller.
"We are a small team," Burkhalter said. "We have to box out and be one of the aggressive teams. We will have to play a great defensive game. We just have to play smart with all of our heart. This could be the last game we ever play."
