Contributing writer
The swarming Berean Academy defense kept the Goessel High School Bluebirds boys’ basketball team on edge all night as the Goessel boys hit more 3-pointers than 2-point field goals on Feb. 21.
It was a frustrating night on the road for Goessel in their last game of the regular season. The teams were tied at 9 points at the end of one quarter, but a lid on the Goessel basket closed in the second quarter and the Bluebirds managed no points at all. Berean led at halftime, 21-9. Although the Berean boys are ranked fourth in 2A, Goessel was hoping to have a better showing.
Goessel finally got back into scoring as the team switched ends of the court for the second half. It took the Bluebirds more than two minutes in the third period to get the ball through the hoop, and the visitors trailed, 34-14, at the end of three quarters and trailed at the end of the game, 48-20. Goessel made two 2-point field goals, three 3-point baskets and made 7 of 10 free-throws.
Leading the scoring for the Bluebirds was Trey Schmidt with 6 points; Davis Cook, 5; Braden Unruh, 4; Nic Buller, 3; and Peter Voth, 2. Goessel played Centre in the first round of the sub-state tournament Monday. Goessel’s record is 11-9 compared to the Cougars’ 9-11 record. Winners will return to the Goessel gym for a Thursday game. In their only head-to-head battle this season, the Bluebirds defeated Centre, 65-56, at the Cougars’ gym.
Bluebirds beat Centre
Goessel put together their highest point production of the year against Centre on Monday, winning 73-50. Unruh led all scorers with 19, while Buller had a season high game with 18 points and five rebounds. Goerzen added 11 points, while Voth and Schmidt put in 9 points each. The victory sends them on in sub-state play Thursday when they take on the number one seed Pretty Prairie. Now 12-9 on the season, Goessel tips off at 7:30 p.m. in the Goessel High School gymnasium.