Athletes of the week: Rosemount guard finds a little playoff magic

GARRETT GOETZ
Rosemount, basketball
To say Rosemount was playing possum would be a little too generous, but the Irish certainly made a statement about being overlooked in the Class 4A, Section 3 playoffs.

With Goetz, a junior point guard, leading the way, seventh-seeded Rosemount pulled off back-to-back upsets. They defeated East Ridge 67-62 in the quarterfinals, then squeezed out an 82-75 overtime victory over Henry Sibley in the semifinals.

Goetz had his best consecutive performances of the season. He followed 16 points, four rebounds and four assists against No. 2 seed East Ridge with a 25-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist effort in the victory over Henry Sibley.

"Nobody expected us to move past the first round," Goetz said. "But our chemistry is building. We're happy to be in this position."

Next up is Tyus Jones and top-seeded Apple Valley for the section championship Friday. Goetz knows it's asking a lot of the Irish to pull off another upset, but he's ready for the challenge.

"They beat us twice this season by quite a bit, but we've been shooting well and playing with a lot of confidence," he said. "They shouldn't take us lightly."

MATT PERRY
St. Thomas Academy, hockey
Cadets co-head coach Greg Vannelli said Perry isn't considered a goal-scorer, but try telling that to the Class 1A tournament field. Perry finished with a tournament-leading seven goals and three assists as the Cadets won their third consecutive small-school title.

CLAIRE LUNDBERG
Anoka, basketball
The junior guard saved her best for the biggest stage so far. After scoring a total of only 17 points in the first two Class 4A, Section 7 games, Lundberg scored a career-high 30 points to lift the Tornadoes over Forest Lake 64-60 in overtime in the section championship game.

SADE CHATMAN
St. Paul Central, basketball
After a four-year hiatus, the Minutemen are back in the state tournament, largely on the accomplishments of the 6-2 University of Alabama-Birmingham recruit. In three Class 4A, Section 4 games, she scored 67 points, with a team-high 19 in a 58-47 victory over Woodbury in the finals.

TESHA BUCK
Red Wing, basketball
The Wingers served notice that their anticipated move to the Big Nine Conference will be successful by dominating southern Minnesota teams in the Class 3A, Section 1 tournament. Buck, a Wisconsin-Green Bay signee, averaged 23.7 points in section play.

RENARD SUGGS
Woodbury, basketball
The senior guard scored a season-high 38 points as the Royals outlasted Mahtomedi 91-85 in the Class 4A, Section 4 semifinals. He and the Royals earned a date Wednesday with Stillwater for the championship.