By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Goessel boys looked strong and poised in the first half of Friday’s game at home.

The Lindeman brothers had all the Bluebird points in the first quarter, as Dylan intercepted three passes, which led to lay-ups, and Drew popped from the top of the lane as Goessel jumped out to a 10-4 lead at the end of one quarter.

The Eagles tied the game 10-10, before Jake Hiebert hit a two and 3-pointer. Goessel extended its lead to 6 points, but Canton-Galva hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Bluebirds’ halftime lead to 20-12.

Goessel’s shooting percentage cooled in the second half, and the Eagles scored seven consecutive points. Drew Lindeman would have the only score for Goessel in the third quarter, and Canton-Galva led 24-22.

Skyler Wuest connected on a short jumper, and Drew Lindeman hit two baskets to tie the game at 28-28.

Canton-Galva went on an 8-0 run, and missed free throws by the Bluebirds prevented a comeback. Miguel Ballesto hit a bucket with 15 seconds left in the game, but the Eagles escaped the Bluebird gym with a 40-34 win.

Dylan Lindeman led the Bluebirds with 14 points, Drew Lindeman 9, Hiebert 5, and two points each for Jacob Hagewood, Wuest and Ballesto.

The loss gave the Bluebirds a record of 3-6 overall, and 2-3 in Wheat State League games.

Girls suffer loss

Canton-Galva pressure caused numerous turnovers in the first quarter, but the Goessel girls improved the success in bring the ball down the floor.

Elizabeth Alderfer hit two free throws, and a Madi Smith basket gave the Bluebirds a 4-3 lead. The Eagles scored seven unanswered points and held their biggest lead 14-7.

Goessel found success pounding the ball low to Stephany Meyer, who scored 13 points in the second quarter, with five from the free-throw line. The Bluebirds trailed 19-20 at half.

After a Meyer and Smith basket, the Bluebirds had tied the game 23-23 with 2:13 to play in the third quarter. Turnovers plagued the Bluebirds, but the Eagles also struggled from the field. A Canton-Galva guard picked up a long rebound, and launched a three pointer to beat the buzzer, as Canton Galva led 27-23 at the break.

The Bluebirds were scoreless for three minutes in the fourth quarter but only trailed 29-23. Meyer dropped in a basket, then sent the Eagles to the free-throw line for 12 attempts in the last two minutes.

Megan Guerrero sank a three pointer to get the Bluebirds as close a 28-31, but Canton-Galva would end the contest with a victory 34-28.

Meyer led the Bluebirds with 17 points, Madi Smith 4, Guerrero 3, and Alderfer and Porclein Unruh each had two points.

The Bluebirds fell to 2-3 in Wheat State League games and 3-6 overall.