Staff writer
Defense led the way for the Bluebirds in two of the three wins last week.
In Saturday’s championship match, Goessel jumped out to a 12-2 lead against Elyria Christian. The Eagles would get as close as 16-14 in the second quarter, but Goessel enlarged their lead by seven points at half time.
A 17-point lead comforted the Bluebird crowd at the end of three quarters, and Goessel won the game 47-27. Goessel recorded 10 steals in this game.
In the prior game against Burrton, Goessel’s full court pressure led to easy baskets as Goessel jumped ahead 22-0, before the Chargers scored six points to end the first quarter.
The Bluebirds surged to a 39-10 halftime lead, and recorded 14 steals.
The Bluebirds held a 40-point lead through three quarters and wnt on to win 58-18.
The Bluebirds are 3-1, with their next game Friday at home against Peabody-Burns.
Scoring summary against Burrton: Lindeman, 12; Hagewood, 12; Hiebert, 10; Wuest, 9; Duerkse, 6; Dawson Stutzman, 3; Schmidt, 2; Lucas Wiens, 2; and Zogleman, 2.
Scoring summary against Elyria Christian: Lindeman, 18; Hiebert, 8; Wuest, 6; Zogleman, 5; Schmidt, 4; Hagewood, 4; and Duerksen, 2.
Girls held winless
The Bluebird Classic didn’t hold the results Goessel was looking for, as the offense couldn’t score enough to win games.
Against Burrton, Goessel trailed 12-3 at the end of one quarter, and 19-8 at halftime.
Beginning the second half, the Bluebirds came out with a spark on defense and some offensive production with Elizabeth Schmucker hitting a layup, Rachael Zogleman and Sarah Spurlin scored from close range and Schmucker making a basket and free throw. Goessel was back in the ball game trailing 17-21.
The Chargers stretched their lead to 10 points before Schmucker hit a three-pointer and Zogleman dropped in a basket getting as close as 24-29. But Burrton scored 10 unanswered points to win the game 39-26.
Against Canton Galva, Goessel scored 41 points, but the Eagles accumulated 43 points in a close game for fifth place.
Goessel led 25-22 at the end of the first two quarters. At the end of the third quarter, Goessel still clung to a 31-30 lead.
Canton-Galva connected on five of six free throws in the fourth quarter, while the Bluebirds were three of seven from the charity stripe. The Eagles grabbed a two-point lead late in the game. Goessel had possession of the ball with seconds left in the game, but couln’t connect on a pair of last second shots.
Goessel lost its opening game of the tournament Dec. 10 to Central Christian 46-22.
Goessel is 0-4 and plays Peabody-Burns on Friday.
Scoring summary against Burrton: Schmucker, 14; Zogleman, 4; Unruh, 3; Spurlin, 2; Riley Graber, 2; and Kaleigh Guhr, 1.
Scoring summary against Canton-Galva: Schmucker, 14; Unruh, 10; Alderfer, 8; Flaming, 7; and Graber, 2.
Last modified Dec. 19, 2019