By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Although members of the Goessel High School girls basketball team knew they were playing the No. 6 team in 1A Division I Thursday night, it was not the way the Bluebird’s seniors wanted to end their high school careers, losing 40-15.

The Bluebirds went more than 6 minutes before scoring in the game against the pressure defense of the Claflin Wildcats. Goessel trailed 10-2 at the end of the first quarter. Aimee Flaming scored 2 points in the first quarter and 2 in the second period. Senior Shanna Klassen dropped in 2 points and Jessica Harvey managed 4 points as the Bluebirds trailed at halftime, 19-10.

Jennifer Van Horn, another GHS senior, tried desperately to help her team but picked up her third and fourth fouls early in the third period and the Bluebirds could only manage 3 points in the third quarter. The deficit grew to 32-13, but Claflin also struggled to score.

Goessel’s frustration in missing shots continued in the fourth period, as the Bluebirds were only able to manage 2 free throws for the entire quarter and lost the sub-state semifinal game, 40-15.

Klassen led the Bluebirds with 10 rebounds and 6 points. Flaming and Harvey ended with 4 points each and D’Ambra Kruger scored a point.

Goessel ended the season with a record of 6-16.

For the season, Goessel’s two senior starters contributed in different ways. Klassen played smart around the basket leading the team with 10 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. Van Horn averaged 5.6 points per game and 2.5 steals per game.

Goessel 57, Centre 42

The mood was completely different in the first round game of sub-state Feb. 28 when Goessel traveled to Centre.

Although the Bluebirds only scored 3 points in the first quarter, the offense came alive in the next three quarters and Coach Ryan Hoopes could see the team play with confidence for one of few times this season.

The Bluebirds trailed, 8-3, at the end of the first quarter but erased the deficit and took the lead, 14-12, midway through the second quarter on a basket by Harvey. Flaming hit a 3-pointer for the last score in the quarter to give her 7 points in the period and Goessel led, 22-19, at the end of the first half.

Van Horn, Alex Hiebert, and Kruger each picked up their third fouls early in the third period, but in this game the scoring continued. With the Bluebirds holding on to a 29-25 lead midway through the third quarter, Shianne Defreese scored her first varsity points of the season. Johanna Hoffman, Flaming, Harvey, Klassen, and Kruger each scored a basket to boost the Bluebird lead at the end of the third quarter, 41-32.

Goessel hit an excellent 14-of-16 free throws in the fourth quarter to build their lead to a final score of 57-42.

Klassen led the team with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Flaming hit a season-high 11 points, Van Horn and Harvey added 8 apiece, Hoffman knocked down 6 points, Hiebert scored 4, Kruger 3 points, and Defreese contributed a basket.