We’ve got a lot of great heart on this team here. Our seniors did the greatest they could do for us.”

Head Coach Robbie Goggleye

CHISHOLM—North Woods Head Coach Robbie Goggleye and his assistants huddled with an emotional Grizzlies girls team for a long time after losing an opening sectional tourney game Thursday to Chisholm, 68-53. No one wanted the season to be over, especially for seniors Kennedy Wardas, Sasha Strong, and Coley Olson.
“We’ve got a lot of great heart on this team here,” Goggleye said. “Our seniors did the greatest they could do for us.”
As they did in an early-season contest against Chisholm, the Grizzlies dug a hole in the first half that proved too big to climb out of, trailing 38-21 at the break.
Bluestreaks freshman guard Hannah Kne seemingly scored at will from the outside for 13 points in the first stanza, and the Grizzlies had problems solving Chisholm’s press.
“Their one-two-two got us right away and we made it look good by not keeping composure and making the right read,” Goggleye said. “There are a lot of panic buttons out here and if you step on them turnovers happen.”
During the break, Goggleye reminded the team how it nearly came back from a 20-point deficit against Chisholm in the season’s second game and encouraged them to bring their all in the second half.
“We switched to man defense and we wanted to be more aggressive on feeding the post,” Goggleye said.
Led by its seniors, a team that was trounced by 17 in the first half regained its composure, outscoring the Bluestreaks 32-30 in the second half. The Grizzlies made a late run with a chance to cut the lead to single digits before Chisholm took control to preserve the win.
Strong led the Grizzlies with 15 points, 13 coming in the second half. Eighth-grader Madi Dantes was the only other North Woods player in double-digits, with 10.
Goggleye was effusive in his praise for his senior trio.
“Kennedy has been our spark plug,” he said. “Her motor is always going 100 percent. Sasha has great leadership; she tries to keep everyone involved and always keeps working. Coley (Olson) is Coley. She’s a great athlete, has great poise, and she keeps her head. They’re going to succeed in life with the attitudes they have.”
The loss capped a disappointing eight-game losing streak for the Grizzlies, who ended their season with a record of 8-19.