GHS looks good early in 67-34 loss to Moundridge

By DELBERT PETERS

Sports writer

The Goessel High School girls’ basketball team surprised the crowd and the Moundridge girls’ team Feb. 10 by jumping out to a 9-2 lead.

However, a 29-4 run by the Wildcats led to a 31-13 halftime lead.

 Aspen Frey, after scoring eight points in the first half, continued to lead the team with another nine points in the second half, hitting 64 percent of her field goals. 

However, Moundridge padded its lead with a 12-0 run in the third quarter, and led 48-27 to start the fourth quarter.

The number one ranked team in 2A continued to outpace the Bluebirds and the final was 67-34.

“Aspen had a great game,”
said GHS head coach Ryan Hoopes. “Even against a state ranked team, she played aggressively.”

Leading the way for the Bluebirds with a season-high 17 points was Frey.

Kendra Flaming, the Bluebird leading scorer for the season, followed with seven points.

Karina Harvey added five points, Karis Janzen banked in four and six rebounds, and Isabel Tamoj hit one free throw.

Flint Hills

The Bluebirds overpowered their opponent Thursday at Flint Hills with a lopsided victory, 59-22.

“We played well,” Hoopes said. “Flint Hills was a different team than we usually see in the Heart of America League.”

Nine girls scored for Goessel with the bench being able to play the entire fourth quarter.

Leading the way in the scorebook for Goessel was Flaming with 13 points, Shanna Klassen added 10, while Jessica Goertzen, Frey, and Harvey each had seven points.

Janzen and Jamie Spoonemore each scored six points, Kaley Brown made two points, and Tamoj added a free throw.

Remington

Back on the home court on Friday, Goessel lost a tough match with Remington, 43-37.

The Broncos earned an 8-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the lead changed hands five times in the second period.

Flaming hit a jumper to give the Bluebirds the lead, Frey then made a left-handed layup to tie the game at 11.

Flaming intercepted a pass at midcourt and went in for a layup.

The Broncos scored six points in a row to take a 17-13 lead, but Janzen grabbed two offensive rebounds and converted baskets both times to tie the game.

Remington scored four points, but a free throw by Klassen and two steals by Harvey going all the way for layups gave the Bluebirds a 22-21 lead late in the second period.

The Broncos scored five points to end the quarter and led at halftime, 26-22.

Janzen scored six points in the third period, but the offense went flat against Remington as the Bluebirds found themselves behind eight points.

Harvey hit a shot from the corner, but Remington was willing to stand at halfcourt and let the final two minutes run off the clock with a six-point lead. 

The Broncos scored just before the quarter ended and then again in the fourth quarter taking a 40-30 lead.

Janzen scored another two, and Flaming knocked in a jumper and three-pointer as the game ended with Goessel losing by six.

“Karis is coming on strong,” Hoopes said, “but it is just so hard to get a win in the league. Four of our league losses are by less than 10 points.”

Janzen led the team with 12 points, Flaming added 11, Harvey dropped in eight, Frey five, and Klassen one.

This week the Bluebirds will be at Ell-Saline and Canton-Galva, before playing next week in the 1A regional tournament.

It begins with the upper-seed hosting the first round followed by semifinal and championship games at Burrton.