By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

In the semifinal matchup of the 2A substate championships Thursday, Goessel High School boys faced the 19-2 basketball team from Olpe and lost, 48-37. The Bluebirds were successful in the first quarter, penetrating the lane and getting some easy baskets. With the Eagle shooting percentage low, Goessel jumped out to a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Olpe turned up the heat on defense in the second quarter forcing several turnovers that led to easy baskets. As the Eagles were deliberate on offense the rhythm of Goessels’ offense changed from the quarter before. The Bluebirds were only able to score 5 points in the second period and the game was all even, 21-21, at halftime.

The Bluebirds managed to stay ahead for some of the third period with Aaron Reimer and Weston Hiebert making baskets from close range. With Goessel leading, 27-25, Olpe went on a 9-2 run and closed out the third quarter in the lead, 36-29. Goessel would get as close as 6 points with 4:16 to play in the final quarter, but the Eagles were able to extend the lead, 48-37.

Goessel scorers were Reimer collecting 14 points, Hayden Goerzen and Braden Unruh making 7 each, Hiebert 5, and Fast and Miller 2 each.

Goessel ended the season at 11-11.

Peabody-Burns

The Bluebirds evened the score with Peabody-Burns March 2, winning a thriller at Peabody with a big fourth quarter. The Bluebirds entered the first round of the 2A substate tournament as the No. 6 seed and pulled out a 67-62 upset against the No. 3 team.

The first quarter was a battle of matching baskets. Goessel was ahead, 9-5, but the lead changed hands five times in the quarter with the score at the break, 14-13, with the Bluebirds in the lead.

The Warriors scored first in the second period and then led the whole quarter. For Goessel, Reimer was finding his touch from close range scoring 11 points in the first half. Fouls were beginning to mount, sending key players to the bench for Peabody. The Warriors led at the half, 34-29.

Most of Goessel’s scoring in the third period came from the post position as Reimer, Hiebert, and Bryant Miller scored 8 of Goessel’s 13 points, but Peabody led by as many as 10 points late in the quarter.

The Bluebirds owned the fourth period as Reimer got on the scoreboard first. Isaac Fast followed with a 3-pointer and Hiebert got an offensive rebound and put it back in for the score. Still the Bluebirds had only cut 1 point off the deficit and trailed, 56-49. Braden Unruh hit a 3-pointer, Reimer scored off a rebound, and Fast hit another 3 to get the Bluebirds as close as 59-57. Peabody hit two free throws but Unruh drained a 3-pointer and Goessel led for the first time since early in the second period. Reimer scored again with 28 seconds to give the Bluebirds a 64-62 lead.

The Bluebird defense held and the Warriors sent Corey Buller to the line. Hitting one of two free throws gave the Bluebirds a 3-point lead with 19 seconds to play.

Peabody missed two 3-pointers When Goessel got the rebound, Fast went to the line with 3.1 seconds on the clock. He made both free throws for his highest point performance of the season and sealed a 67-62 victory. Reimer led all scorers with 22 points followed by Unruh with 13. Fast and Miller had 11 each with Hiebert adding 7. Trey Schmidt added 2 points and Buller made a free throw.