Goodhue had the perfect way to isolate Lake Park-Audubon big man senior Jesse Bergh on the defensive end of the floor. Shoot over the top.

The Wildcats made seven three-pointers in the first nine minutes, building a quick 16-point lead en route to a 57-37 triumph in the Class 1A quarterfinals Thursday at Williams Arena.

“It was a good night for us shooting the ball,” Goodhue coach Matt Halverson said. The Wildcats (29-3) also eliminated Lake Park-Audubon 54-29 in the quarterfinals a year ago. “The boys did a nice job of executing.”

Four players accounted for 10 three-pointers in the first half, leading the No. 4-ranked Wildcats to a 34-20 lead at the intermission. Meanwhile, the 6-10 Bergh stood in the middle of the Raiders’ zone patiently waiting for a rebound to come his way.

In the first half the Wildcats were paced by senior guards Taylor Buck, with 12 points, and Nicholas Thomforde with nine points. The 21 points were courtesy of seven three-pointers. Thomforde finished with 15 points while Buck wound up with his first-half total. 

Goodhue went 10-for-17 from beyond the arc in the first half. It only had one field goal that wasn’t a three.

Bergh scored the first seven points for the Raiders (22-7), and had 11 in the first half to go with one rebound, that coming on the offensive end, before picking up his third foul. He wound up with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Goodhue was more methodical in the second half, driving to the basket to take advantage of Bergh’s foul trouble. It didn’t make its only three-pointer after the break until 6:04 remained. Of course, it came from somebody who didn’t have one in the initial onslaught.

“We have five or six players who can make a three over the course of a game,” Halverson said. “It’s harder to guard five players than a one- or two-headed monster.”

Goodhue was the state tournament runner-up to Minneapolis North last year.