By DELBERT PETERS

Sports writer

Two league victories this past week move the Goessel High School boys’ basketball team to 15-5 on the season.

The team defeated Ell-Saline Feb. 17, 69-41, and claimed a 47-34 victory Friday against Canton-Galva.

The victories were the ninth and 10th in a row for the GHS squad.

The Bluebirds led 23-16 against Ell-Saline after one quarter.

The defense forced several easy baskets and Goessel went into the locker room at halftime with a 16-point lead.

The Bluebirds came out in the third quarter and held the Cardinals to only seven points.

Goessel’s 64-33 lead at the end of the third quarter meant the fourth quarter would be played with a running clock.

Goessel ended the evening with a 28-point victory.

Travis Fensky ended the night with four three-pointers and a season high 18 points.

Austin Unruh added 14, Kendall Voth 10, Weston Hiebert nine, Craig Banman eight, Nikko Herman four, Isaac Fast three, Aaron Reimer two, and Corey Buller one.

Canton-Galva

The Goessel boys also pickedup an important victory Friday at Canton-Galva.

“The seedings (for 1A regional tournaments) were determined after Tuesday’s game, so it is easy to relax and not play your best in the next game,” Coup said. “Canton played well though, and I am pleased that we came away with a win.”

The inside game for Goessel helped the Bluebirds to some easy baskets as Unruh and Hiebert scored 17 first-half points.

Hiebert picked up six steals in the first half, intercepting Eagle passes and keeping the opponent from scoring on numerous possessions.

In spite of good defense and easy baskets, the Bluebirds only led 22-16 at halftime.

Kendall Voth scored seven straight points on three consecutive possessions to give the Bluebirds a 29-16 lead early in the third period.

Canton-Galva would cut the lead to nine points several times, but would never get any closer, as the Bluebirds won by a final score of 47-34.

Scoring for the Bluebirds were Unruh with 18, Voth 12, Hiebert six, Fensky four, Herman three, and Banman and Reimer each with two.

After starting 0-4 in the league, the Bluebirds have won seven straight league games and 10 in a row overall.

The boys ended the regular season with a 7-4 league record.

GHS will be the number one seed at the 1A regional tournament and will have a bye in the first round.

They will play Friday at Burrton and will advance to Saturday’s championship game with a victory.

The top two teams from 1A regional tournaments will move on to the sub-state round.