By DELBERT PETERS

Sports writer

Playing even for the final three quarters Jan. 6 against Hutchinson Trinity, was not enough after a slow start was the story for the Goessel High School girls’ in their first Heart of America League game.

Goessel lost the contest, 37-25, on their home court. The Celtics scored the first eight points, and after the Bluebirds knocked in three baskets, Trinity took advantage of Goessel turnovers to score 10 unanswered points.

After trailing, 24-8, in the second quarter, Goessel began to match Trinity in points and defense.

The deficit proved too much to overcome as Goessel got as close as six on a Kendra Flaming three-pointer with four minutes to play in the game.

Trinity scored the last six points to win by 12.

Only three Bluebirds got into the scoring column as Flaming ended the night with 17 points.

Karis Janzen scored four points and grabbed nine rebounds. Karina Harvey put in four points and Jessica Goertzen dished out four assists.

Six players found the basket Friday night in a 43-35 loss to Sedgwick.

Goessel fell behind, 14-3, early in the game and before scoring 13 straight points to take a 16-14 lead in the second quarter.

Sedgwick expanded the lead to 43-28 in the fourth quarter, but Goessel cut into the gap by scoring the last seven points.

Flaming led the team with 19 points, Aspen Frey ended with eight, Harvey scored five, Janzen two, and Goertzen one point.

The Bluebird girls are now 0-2 in the league and 2-4 overall. Goessel will be at Peabody and Bennington this week.