Contributing writer
The Goessel High School girls’ basketball team finished the Berean Academy tournament with a win after losing the first two games.
Word of Life 66, GHS 29
In the first round game on Jan. 24, against Word of Life, Goessel fell behind 23-6 in the first quarter and only scored 2 points in the second period. The Fire’s aggressive defense forced Goessel into 26 turnovers and the Bluebirds trailed at halftime, 39-8.
When the Fire coach called off the full-court defense in the second half, the Bluebirds managed to knock in 11 points in the third period and 10 points in the fourth. The game ended with a Goessel loss, 66-29.
Scoring
Jessica Harvey, 10; Alex Hiebert, 6; Johanna Hoffman, 4; Ali Buller, 4; D’Ambra Kruger, 3; Makayla King, 2
Douglass 35, GHS 21
Against Douglass in the second game of the tournament, Goessel’s offense sputtered again. Goessel trailed at the quarters 9-7, 18-10, and 28-16, and the final score on Thursday was 35-21.
The Bluebirds gathered in a remarkable 31 rebounds, but those possessions did not convert into many baskets. The Bulldogs’ defense forced Goessel into 24 turnovers as the Bluebirds headed into the consolation bracket, fighting for seventh place.
Scoring
Hoffman, 8; Harvey, 7; Buller, 3; Hiebert, 2; Kruger, 1.
GHS 52, Bluestem 43
On Saturday, Bluebird fans saw their team shoot a wonderful percentage from the field. After the game was tied early at 4, the Bluebirds rattled off 9 consecutive points to take a 13-4 lead over Bluestem in the first quarter.
By the time the first quarter ended, Harvey had tallied 6 points, and the Bluebirds led, 15-8. Buller was accurate from 16 feet, hitting three baskets to start the second period. After Hoffman hit a basket and Harvey made two free throws, Goessel enjoyed a 14-point lead with 2 minutes, 39 seconds left in the first half. The Bluebirds looked relaxed and played together well, and when the half ended with a Lions’ 3-pointer, Goessel went to the locker room ahead, 30-19.
Although Goessel did not miss many shots in the third quarter, turnovers prevented them from getting many possessions close to the basket. Bluestem began to chip away at the Bluebirds’ lead, and fortunately the Lions only converted two of four free throws as the third quarter ended with Goessel ahead, 34-29.
Several times in the fourth quarter Bluestem got as close as 3 points. Hiebert picked up her fourth foul with five minutes to play and the two made free throws by the Lions cut Goessel’s lead to 38-35. Two baskets by Kruger gave the Bluebirds some breathing room, but again turnovers by the Bluebirds allowed the Lions to get as close as 46-43 with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Harvey went to the free throw line, hitting four consecutive free throws. The Bluebirds were able to secure rebounds from missed shots by Bluestem and Hiebert finished the game with two more free throws to give the Bluebirds a 52-43 win. Goessel’s 52 points are the most points scored by the Bluebirds this season, and they shot 50 percent from the field.
“It’s been frustrating because we shoot like that in practice all the time, but get in a game and can’t make anything. So it was fun to put up some points,” coach Ryan Hoopes said.
Goessel’s record is now 3-10 and both boys and girls will play at Centre on Friday.
Scoring
Harvey, 18; Hoffman, 12; Buller, 8; Hiebert, 6; Kruger, 6; Aimee Flaming, 2.