By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel boys doubled their season win total with victories over Pretty Prairie and Fairfield in tournament play at Burrton.

Saturday’s fifth-place game against Pretty Prairie was a chance for the Bluebirds to avenge a Jan. 9 loss to the Bulldogs.

The lead changed hands 13 times in the back and forth game. Kellen Froese hit two 3-pointers and Connor Davis knocked down a jumper in the first quarter as Goessel led 8-6. Lucas Hiebert hit two layups, Davis scored again, and Zach Wiens scored 11 points in the second quarter to nudge Goessel into a 25-23 halftime lead.

Pretty Prairie regained the lead after intermission, forcing a Bluebird time-out with 3 minutes to play in the third period, trailing 35-28.

Then it was Goessel’s turn to light up the scoreboard. Lawton Makovec hit a 3-pointer and Froese banged one in off the glass. Two more 3-pointers from Makovec, one at the buzzer, gave the Bluebirds the lead, 39-35, after three.

With 1:21 left in the game the Bulldogs led 47-46. Makovec hit two free throws to put the Bluebirds up by a point with 17 seconds left. Josh Schmidt came into the game and forced two Bulldogs turnovers. Makovec hit two final free throws to seal the 50-47 win.

Makovec and Wiens each scored 13 points. Froese and Davis ended with 8 points apiece.

Fairfield

The game Thursday against Fairfield began as a close contest, but ended in a lopsided Goessel win.

Goessel trailed 8-9 after the first 8 minutes of play. A 20-point burst in the second period vaulted the Bluebirds to a 28-14 lead at halftime. Makovec was deadly scoring from all over the court.

The Bluebirds exploded for 22 points in the third period, blowing the game wide open with a 50-22 lead at the end of three quarters. Zach Wiens pulled down 12 rebounds and Josh Schmidt picked up three steals. The Bluebirds coasted to a 60-32 win.

Makovec ended with four 3-pointers and 24 points. Wiens followed with 11.

Wiens was named to the all-tournament team.

The Goessel boys are now 4-8, and play Friday at Moundridge.