Contributing writer
The Goessel High School girls scored first but faltered and could not recover Feb. 5 against White City. Johanna Hoffman and Page Hiebert scored to give the Bluebirds a 4-3 lead at the start of the game, but White City scored 11 consecutive points to a take a 14-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Jessica Harvey scored seven points in the second period to go along with two points from Hoffman and Makayla King, but the Huskies raced to a 30-15 halftime advantage.
Goessel cut the lead to 33-21 with solid defense and baskets by Alex Hiebert, Harvey and a Page Hiebert free throw. The third quarter ended with White City still in the lead 35-24.
With less than six minutes to play, the Bluebirds used tough defense to narrow the gap to five points. The Huskies out-rebounded the Bluebirds, however, and soon led by 14. The game ended on a Harvey three-pointer with score of 52-41.
Harvey scored a season high of 20 points, Alex Hiebert scored five points, Page Hiebert and Hoffman both scored four, Aleena Cook and Alyssa Booton both hit three-pointers, and King ended with two points.
Girls start strong against Warriors
Goessel started strong against Peabody-Burns on Feb. 8, but the Warriors finished stronger, holding off a Bluebird rally with a final score of 35-29.
Although Alex Hiebert gave the Bluebirds a 2-0 lead to begin the game, the Warriors scored eleven straight points. Harvey nailed a jumper at the end of the quarter but the home team led, 11-4.
Alex Hiebert scored four points in the second quarter and Booton sank a three-pointer in the second quarter. However, several missed layups and missed free throws allowed the Warriors to stay, 17-13.
The Bluebirds clicked in the third period as Alex Hiebert hit from close range, Erin Brubaker nailed a jumper, Page Hiebert hit from the corner, and Booton arched in another three-pointer to give the Bluebirds a 22-19 lead. The Warriors finished the quarter with four points and Goessel trailed by one at the end of the third quarter 23-22.
Peabody-Burns got hot and scored eight consecutive points to start the fourth quarter. Brubaker hit a free throw, Page Hiebert hit a three-pointer and a lay-up, and Harvey hit a free throw. Goessel missed other opportunities and Peabody-Burns finished with a win at 35-29.
For the game, Alex Hiebert scored eight points, Page Hiebert seven, Booton six, Harvey five, and Brubaker three. Goessel played at home with Udall on Tuesday and at Canton on Friday. The girls ended league competition with a 4-4 record, after beginning the season 3-0. Overall Goessel is 7-10.