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Goessel dominates Marion

Staff writers

In the week’s only matchups between county teams, Goessel overwhelmed Marion in boys and girls basketball Friday at season-opening games in Marion.

Boys

The Warriors drew first blood, but within three minutes the Bluebirds used a 12-0 run to build a 19-4 lead that proved insurmountable in pummeling an out-sized and out-numbered Marion team, 59-26.

Goessel out-shot Marion 45.0% to 26.7% from the field. The Warriors hit just one of eight from three while the Bluebirds hit 3 of 13.

Marion failed to take advantage of scoring opportunities from the line, hitting just 7 of 17 free throws compared to Goessel’s 14 of 18.

Rebounds and assists were even, but Marion had substantial problems with ball-handling, committing 25 turnovers to Goessel’s 12.

Warrior players were called several times for unforced errors, including carrying the ball while attempting to cross the timeline.

Goessel was led by Caiden Duerksen with 17 points and Skyler Wuest with 16. No Warrior scored in double digits. Jack Lanning was Marion’s leading scorer with just eight.

A bright spot for the Warriors was hustle plays. Campbell Winter led both teams with 12 rebounds. Goessel’s Caleb Burkholder led the Bluebirds with 10. Overall, the teams tied with 33 rebounds apiece.

Goessel’s swarming defense disrupted Marion’s sometimes disorganized offense, creating 13 deflections and 11 steals.

The Warriors seemed outmatched in trying to stop Goessel’s penetrating offense, which scored 32 of 59 points in the paint.

Marion played only eight players, five of them more than 20 minutes. Goessel, much smaller in enrollment, had the luxury of playing 12, with only two having to spend more than 20 minutes on the court.

Marion’s roster also includes just two 6-foot players and one 6-foot-1 player. Goessel’s lists seven players 6-foot or taller, including three taller than any player on Marion’s roster.

Goessel led 36-14 at half then held Marion to a seven-minute scoring drought and a single basket for the entire third period, stretching the lead to 50-16.

Both teams will play this week in hometown tournaments, the Warrior and Bluebird Classics.

Goessel’s tournament includes Burrton, Canton-Galva, Central Christian, Elyria Christian and Little River.

Marion’s includes Berean Academy, Eureka, Halstead, Wichita Homeschool, and Wichita Independent.

Girls

Friday’s contest between the Warrior and Bluebird girls was closer, 53-40, but Goessel still dominated.

Goessel scored first. Marion led 6-4 until the Bluebirds’ Cheyenne Sawyer hit her first of four three-pointers in the game. Goessel never trailed again.

Goessel ended the half on a 5-1 run to lead 25-17 at the break. Braylyn Hoopes opened the third quarter with her only three of the night, but Kaleigh Guhr followed with the first of her three second-half threes.

Sawyer led the Bluebirds in scoring with 15 but fouled out in the fourth quarter.

With two other Bluebirds having four fouls, Goessel’s deep bench proved an advantage as the Bluebirds played a total of 12 players, all but three of whom scored.

Marion, in contrast, played only 10 despite also fouling out one player, Grayce Tankersley.

Jayden May led the Warriors in scoring with 12, all from inside the arc. Calli Burkholder scored eight, including Marion’s only two threes. Freshman starter Kenna Wesner had seven.

The Warrior girls, like their counterparts on the boys team, struggled at the line, hitting only 12 of 28 attempts while Goessel connected on 9 of 15 tries.

Guhr was Goessel’s second leading scorer with 12. Hoopes and Emily Flaming had seven.

Last modified Dec. 9, 2021

 

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