It's been said history repeats itself from time to time, yet for the Hanover Lady Wildcats, having the same story as last year's team wasn't what they wanted. Sure, they wanted to win a title just like they did last year, but they wanted to do it in their own way and there's no doubt in this writer's mind that they did just that.
Hanover rolled into this year's tournament as a 5 seed. Undeterred the Lady Wildcats persisted, with a 14-point win over Bucklin and a 28-point victory over Northern Valley, Hanover only seemed to be improving throughout the grueling 3-=day tournament.
Once they came into Saturday's action against a familiar Lebo team, Hanover knew what they needed to do. They were 4 quarters from glory, 4 quarters from winning yet another state title.
Things couldn't have started out any better, a 20-5 first quarter, a commanding lead and the Hanover crowd was buzzing. But this game was far from over, Coach Chris Beikmann knew it, the upperclassmen on the team knew it, in fact, chances are even the basketball smart freshman and sophomores on this Lady Wildcat team knew it.
Lebo proved that theory correct as they would crawl back into the game and even briefly taking a lead. But the maturity and never say die attitude of the team didn't let them get discouraged and the Wildcats finished maybe as strong as they started, closing out the game on another 15 point swing, this time an 18-3 run. They had done it. The final horn sounded and the scoreboard read "Wildcats 50, Lebo 35". Back to back state for the 2nd time in school history and the Wildcats celebrated on the cougar in the middle of the Barton County court.
Anna Jueneman led the way for Hanover with 24 points, shooting 9 of 15 from the field and appearing at the free throw line 5 times, making 4. Tessa Lohse added 8, 7 came from Drew Bruna on a perfect night shooting and in her final time in a Wildcat jersey, Katelyn Klipp added 5 but left a legacy that will be hard to replace for Hanover.
Hanover finished the season 23-4 and with the 1A Division 1 title in it's rightful place, the trophy case in the halls of Hanover High School.
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