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\r\n<\/p>\r\nLINCOLN, Nebraska — \r\nEarly in the first quarter, it looked like the dream might end.\r\n
<\/p>\r\nLucy Ghaifan, the 6-foot center from Grand Island Central Catholic School, scored six unanswered points, twisting and pushing her way to the basket and fueling her team to a 10-point lead over the Winnebago Lady Indians girls\u2019 basketball team.\r\n
<\/p>\r\nBefore the bright lights and raucous crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena here in Lincoln, the girls did what they have done so often this season. They dug down deep and found the will to win<\/a>.\r\n <\/p>\r\n\u201cWe knew we had to play as a team and be positive the whole time,\u201d said Winnebago senior and six-foot guard Madeline \u201cMaddy\u201d Cleveland. \u201cIt was amazing. It\u2019s really a good feeling.\u201d\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe Winnebago team upset fifth-ranked Grand Island Central Catholic 48-46<\/a> during the first round of the Class C-1 state tournament in Lincoln. It\u2019s the first time since 1990 that the team has made it to the tournament, and it wasn\u2019t an easy road getting there.\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe team began their season with a losing record, winning just six of their first 15 games. But just as they did Wednesday, they fought their way back and found their rhythm to get to the state tournament.\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe Indians defeated a strong team from Pierce, Nebraska, to qualify for districts and then knocked off the No. 1 seed for districts, Malcolm, to secure a state berth.\r\n <\/p>\r\nOn Friday morning, the team at 16-10 will face No. 6 North Bend Central in the semifinals<\/a>.\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nCoach Adam James said North Bend is known for its tall and fast players and strong inside plays.\r\n <\/p>\r\nHe said the Indians will have to execute their screens and share the ball.\r\n <\/p>\r\n\u201cWhatever comes during the game, our girls are really good at adjusting,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we need a three, then they\u2019re going to knock one down.\u201d\r\n <\/p>\r\nIndeed, the team has become renowned for its three-point shooting prowess, and they demonstrated their skill at the three-point line Wednesday as junior Alyssa Wilson scored 15 points on five threes, helping her team regain the lead late at 43-41 in the fourth quarter.\r\n <\/p>\r\nBut it was No. 1 Natasha Deal who seemed to be everywhere, earning points off steals and weaving her way through defenders to score 16 points. In the second quarter, the 5-foot-7 senior led Winnebago on a 15-1 run with nine points of her own that put them ahead at the start of halftime.\r\n <\/p>\r\n\u201cWe always kind of start off slow, and we always kind of find our spark in the second quarter,\u201d she said, taking a break from team practice Wednesday in Lincoln.\r\n <\/p>![\"winnebagoladyindians\"](\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/05\/winnebagoladyindians-scaled.jpg\")
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