Ben Wiens scores 48 in two games
Contributing writer
Goessel faced eight players from Argonia Jan. 14. Although the Raiders were short on numbers, they were quick on defense and were deadly on the jump shot in the lane. Goessel used guts to grind out a thrilling 54-51 victory.
Goessel trailed 17-13 at the end of one quarter, then the team tied the game at 23 before Argonia took the lead again at halftime 33-28. The third quarter ended with Goessel trailing 41-38.
Despite foul trouble and few players on the bench, Argonia increased its lead to 47-38 in the fourth quarter. Ben Wiens hit the first Bluebird points in the fourth quarter with four minutes left in the game to get as close as 47-40. After two Argonia free throws, the Bluebirds who tugged the lead away from the visitors. Wiens scored another nine points with several coming after offensive rebounds. Lawton Makovec hit two free throws and the Bluebirds took a 51-50 lead with two minutes left in the game. Makovec hit a jumper after Argonia tied the game. Argonia sent Wiens and Makovec to the line and only one free throw was successful, but that was enough to give the Bluebirds a hard-fought victory, 54-51.
Ben Wiens led the Bluebirds with 27 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, 5 rebounds. Also scoring for Goessel were Makovec with 12 points; Reece Hiebert, 10; Brian Hiebert, 4; and Connor Davis, 1.
Bluebirds cruise on Friday
The Goessel boys defended well, coming up with 14 steals in a Wheat State League game with Elyria Christian at Goessel. The Bluebirds led at the end of the first quarter 12-5 and then extended their lead to 25-8 by half-time.
By the end of the third quarter Goessel had constructed a 32 point lead, send the game into running clock mode for the whole fourth quarter.
The Bluebirds ended with a 51-18 win.
Scoring for the Bluebirds on Friday were Ben Wiens, 21; Makovec, 10; Lucas Hiebert, 5; Zach Showalter, 4; Zach Wiens, 3; and Kellen Froese, Connor Davis, Reece Hiebert, and Brian Hiebert, 2 each.